Teen sprinter Gout set for first real test

17-year-old makes his world championships debut in 200m heats in Tokyo today

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Gout Gout’s name has sparked debate but the real question for the athletics world is whether the exciting Australian teenage sprinter can fill the vacuum left by Usain Bolt.

The precocious 17-year-old — born to South Sudanese parents who fled the war-torn country via Egypt and arrived in Australia in 2006 — makes his world championships debut in the 200 metre heats in Tokyo today.

Three-time defending champion Noah Lyles and Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo may claim they have the right to be considered Bolt’s heirs.

However, for many the tall and rangy Gout is the one who has the raw potential to become the undisputed superstar of sprinting to succeed Bolt.

The Jamaican eight-time Olympic gold medallist and still the 100m and 200m world record holder retired in 2017.