SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Young Australian sprinter Gout Gout, just 17, narrowly missed out on a spot in the 200m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The Ipswich-born talent clocked 20.36 seconds in his semifinal on Thursday, a touch slower than his heat time of 20.23 seconds, leaving him just outside the top two needed to advance. It’s a tough break for the Oceanian record holder, who had the crowd buzzing with his earlier performance.
Gout, whose personal best of 20.02 seconds this year smashed the Australian and Oceanian records, would have been the first Aussie bloke to reach the 200m final since 2005. Despite his effort, he couldn’t keep pace with the likes of American Noah Lyles, who blitzed the semifinal in a stunning 19.51 seconds. The result highlights the fierce competition on the global stage, with only the best of the best making the cut.
Born to Dinka parents from South Sudan, Gout’s rise from Queensland’s tracks to international attention has been meteoric. His unique name, which coincidentally matches the painful arthritis condition “gout,” has sparked some cheeky online chatter. No worries though – there’s no sign the young gun is battling the real thing, and his focus remains on outrunning the field in future races.
Athletics Australia expressed pride in Gout’s efforts, with coach Darren Clark noting, “He’s still got a bright future ahead. This experience will only make him stronger.” Fans are already tipping him as a contender for the 2028 Olympics, provided he keeps his form and dodges those near misses. For now, the sprint sensation will regroup as the championships roll on in Tokyo.
