‘I’m chilling’: Gout Gout passes first test as he qualifies for world 200m semi-finals

The Australian teenager handled the pressure of his major international debut to finish third in his heat with a time of 20.23 seconds.

STARDOM AWAITS? Australia’s Gout Gout. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Few sporting debuts have arrived with as much hype, but Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout passed his first test at a major global meet by booking a place in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Tokyo.

The 17-year-old handled the pressure under the bright lights of Japan’s National Stadium, powering home in a time of 20.23 seconds to grab the third qualifying place in the fifth of six heats.