Teen sprint star Gout Gout stuns with another super run at world junior championships

He’s the viral internet sprint star earning comparisons to Usain Bolt and Gout Gout showed just why at the world junior athletics championships in Peru.

Internet sensation Gout Gout has set up a showdown with the fastest young man in the world after cruising through qualifying for the 200m final at the World Junior athletics championships.

The Queensland teen, whose blistering run over 100m in which he obliterates a local field while running a stunning 10.2sec has been watched more than a million times, won his semi-final to qualify automatically for Saturday morning’s world title decider.

It could be an Aussie double in the 200m, with speed queen Torrie Lewis qualifying fastest for the women’s final, which will be held just ahead of the men’s race in Lima.

Gout Gout ladies and gentlemen 😤

That's it, just watch 👀#WorldAthleticsU20pic.twitter.com/UEOMm4yHvN

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 29, 2024

While Gout’s semi-final time was officially third-fastest, it was 0.3 slower than his heat-winning performance of 20.77 earlier in the day despite him winding down in the final 20m with the race won.

The 16-year-old, whose form is earning him comparisons to Usain Bolt, faces a crack field in the final, going head-to-head with South African Bayanda Walaza, the winner of the men’s 100m title earlier in the meet who won his 200m semi in 21.00.

While Gout did not race the 100m at this meet, his personal best of 10.29 set earlier this year in that now-viral clip, would have had him near the medals in Lima and if he is able to replicate his best in Saturday’s 200m final he is a good chance of stepping on top of the podium in Lima.

“My 100’s always been a bit ‘iffy’ and since the 200m is my better event and it’s my favourite event, I want to focus on that,” he said ahead of the championships.

“And since the 100 heats, semis and finals are all the day before (the 200m), I just want to focus on my 200m.”

Gout Gout, pictured in action in Fiji earlier this year, has taken the athletics world by storm. Pic: Michael Klein

Gout’s performances are all the more incredible given he is often several years younger than his rivals at the world juniors — an U20 meet.

And while he’s a massive medal chance, he’s not getting ahead of himself.

“Since this is my first big meet, I’m just looking forward for the experience and getting out there, running against fast people and seeing what I can do on the world stage.”

Lewis, who made the semi-finals of the 200m in her Olympic debut in Paris and won a Diamond League round earlier this year, beating US champion Sha’Carri Richardson, was thinking big ahead of the world juniors.

You don't want to miss the 200m final ‼️

🇦🇺's Torrie Lewis clocks the fastest time in the 200m semi's with 23.14.

🇻🇬's @AdaejahHodge runs to 23.18 and looks to be the biggest challenger for Lewis in tomorrow's final 👀#WorldAthleticsU20pic.twitter.com/denIwglhjP

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 29, 2024

“In Paris, I was one of the younger team members and I was just taking in the experience as it came,” Lewis said.

“I feel like I know a little bit more of what to expect here and I have higher expectations from myself.

“I want a medal in the 200m, preferably gold, but I will also be happy with a personal best.”

Gout and Lewis will be joined in the 200m finals by Jessica Milat and Zac Della Rocca.

Torrie Lewis, pictured in action at the Olympics, continues to impress on the world stage. Picture: Michael Klein

After her history-making gold medal in the long jump on Thursday, Delta Amidzovski qualified for the 100m hurdles final.

Tryphena Hewett continued the Australian women’s medal-winning efforts in the field, adding to Marley Raikiwasa’s bronze in the discus on Thursday with her own bronze in the pole vault.

Terrell Thorne was seventh in the 400m final, while Claudia Hollingsworth and Peyton Craig qualified for the 800m deciders and Mason McGroder and Jesuye Doherty are into the men’s long jump decider and Izobelle Louison-Roe, the women’s high jump final.