Tokyo: Gout Gout is a skinny kid striding next to bigger and, presently, faster men. But he has something they don’t – time.

Gout’s world championships ended at the semi-final stage, after he finished fourth in the 200 metres in 20.36 seconds. But, looking around the field of much bigger men, he realised: I can compete now as a kid. I’ve got 15 more years of this – you don’t.

Gout Gout finished a gallant fourth in his semi-final. Credit: Nine

The 17-year-old phenomenon’s dream year did not extend to a world championships final in Tokyo, so he’s not in the fastest eight men in the world. But he is the 18th, which is not a bad place for a kid who leaves here to go back to his year 12 studies.

“It definitely makes you hungry, knowing that I’m just a kid right now, but knowing that I

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