Australian teen sensation Gout Gout has officially secured his spot in the men’s 200m semi-final at his debut World Championships!
The 17-year-old phenom needed a top-three finish in his heat and delivered, crossing the line in an impressive 20.23 seconds.
His run has even outdone sprint legend Usain Bolt’s first major championship performance, as Bolt was knocked out in the heats at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
Stepping onto the world stage with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Gout Gout has delivered a sensational run in the opening round of the Men's 200m. Bound for the semi-final, what can this superstar 17-year-old do next?
— Australian Athletics (@AustralianAths) September 17, 2025
🗣 Hear from the Aussie star about his debut race… pic.twitter.com/s7ebGYJ79t
He’s got some fast competition in the semi-finals, with all his rivals posting quicker times so far. But Gout is heading to the semis undaunted and looking to make history.
“I’m the youngest in the field, just a young bull trying to get into the final and just do my thing and run like the wind,” he said.
“So sub-20 in the final, indeed that’s the goal. Let’s get it.”
Gout races in the semi-finals on Thursday night from 10pm (AEST) in Tokyo.
You can watch the 2025 World Championships live on SBS, SBS On Demand, and the 9 Network.
