The semi-finals over 200 meters on Thursday are the next appearance of the sprint stars around Noah Lyles at the World Athletics World Cup. But it is also eagerly awaited what the young Australian Gout Gout does in Tokyo.
The world athletics is looking forward to the 200 meters of the men. Of course, because in Noah Lyles one of the top stars of the scene starts in his parade discipline. But at least the focus is on Gout Gout in the semi-finals on Thursday (2:02 p.m., in the live ticker at Sportschau.de) over half of the stadium round. In his run -up, he continued to third in 20.23 seconds.
The name Gout Gout doesn’t tell you anything? With all the athletes who have been compared with over-sprinter Usain Bolt in recent years, nobody has become as concrete as the 17-year-old Australian. Despite his youth, Gout is already 1.83 meters tall and wiry. It will still grow up and width, then have a physique like Bolt. And like his Jamaican model, he is already running everything on the ground.
At the Diamond League, Gout trumps on the world stage
This year the blood boy Australian has already conjured up 19.84 seconds on the train. However, he almost always put his mythical times away from the big public at smaller events. Over the past few months, however, the cameras and rapporteurs have increased – because of Gout. At the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco, he then stepped onto the big stage for the first time, although he “only” over 200 meters at the U23 race.
Despite strong headwinds (1.8 meters per second), Gout won the race in a top time of 20.10 seconds. A little later in the race of the “big ones” he would have become fifth, Lyles won 19.88 seconds – but less than half of the headwind (0.8m/s). Gouts became great strength in this race. Not so much extraordinary can be seen in the initial curve, but then Gout is pulling away on the straight.
Gout: “Then I know that I can overtake people”
“My strong top speed is my secret, so I only have to concentrate on the first 50 to 100 meters. When I get out of this curve, I know that I can overtake people”said Gout after his first race at world level. The fact that he could deny this was also because at the time in Australia summer holidays were at school.
In the history of the 200 meters, seven athletes have previously undercut the 20-second mark, Bolt was never faster than 19.93 seconds as a teenager, Lyles does not even appear in the list. So it is obvious which way Gout is on. Especially since he is not a one-hit wonder, but has confirmed his strong times several times.
With big steps into the top of the world
“His continuous growth shows what a mature athlete he is for someone at 17”said Andrew Fairchney, General Manager of the Australian Athletes, the “New York Times”. “It has a natural, fast running style. If you want to run really quickly over 200 meters, you need a large stride length that you also have to keep when fatigue.
Gout Gout has a “natural, fast running style”.
Gout Gout should “enjoy the experience” in Tokyo
Gout’s manager James Templeton wants his protégé “Step by step” Matt, there have been too many super talents who did not pack the leap into the adult world class. “Just let him run run and enjoy the experience”said Templeton. Pressure to reach the final (Friday, 3:06 p.m.) or even to be a medal candidate would only get the teenagers from the outside. He and his team do not start with great expectations in Tokyo, but with great anticipation and lightness.
In Australia, Gout is primarily seen as a very big hope for the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032, and he will only be old for 24 years. If the path he has taken, as many expect, he will celebrate a lot of success in these seven years.
In Tokyo you shouldn’t expect much in this direction, but the athletics world will look at this 17-year-old that even Lyles puts a bit in the shade.