Staff Writers from Newswire
Teen sprint sensation Gout Gout has been named as Australia’s lone representative so far in the 200m in the team being sent to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and will take on the world’s best sprinters for the first time.
Gout, who narrowly missed the final at last weekend’s Stawell Gift as the headline act in the handicap event, has earned his maiden position on an open-age national team aged just 17.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Having demolished local opponents over 200m, Gout will face the world’s fastest men for the first time over 200m when the championships are held in September.
“I’m super excited to be picked to run the 200 in Tokyo at the World Championships! That’s what we’ve been aiming for,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to September being part of my first Australian senior team and looking forward to seeing what I can do against the best of the best.”
Gout Gout will compete at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Last month Gout ran the fastest 200 metres of his young career winning the 200m national championship in a wind-assisted time of 19.84 seconds to again put the world on notice.
Gout’s Australian sprint rival, Lachlan Kennedy, will also be the only male runner in the 100m as part of the 18-athlete squad which will fly the Australian flag.
Olympic pole vault champion, Nina Kennedy, is still hoping to be ready despite having surgery to repair a hamstring injury while fellow Olympic medallists Jess Hull and Nicola Olyslagers were absent from the first wave of names.
But five-time global medallist Eleanor Patterson will take her place in the high jump and Peter Bol in the 800m.
Australian Athletics General Manager, High Performance Andrew Faichney noted the strength of these athletes, who are the first selections for a squad that will be added to as athletes qualify.
“These athletes have not only proven themselves to be the best in the country, but so too the best in the world. Their selection is credit to the work they’ve put in across the season as well as their support in lifting the domestic season to the strong showing it has become today,” Faichney said.
“We can’t wait to see what they do in Tokyo and in New Delhi and we’re also really looking forward to the next few months of international athletics as more Australians look to book their spots on both teams.”
Handicap too much for Gout Gout | 01:10
Australian Athletics Team – 2025 World Athletics Championships, Tokyo
100m – Lachlan Kennedy
200m – Gout Gout
800m – Peter Bol, Peyton Craig, Abbey Caldwell, Claudia Hollingsworth
1500m – Cameron Myers, Sarah Billings
20km Race Walk – Rhydian Cowley, Jemima Montag, Rebecca Henderson
35 km Race Walk – Cowley, Olivia Sander, Elizabeth McMillen
400m Hurdles – Sarah Carli
Long Jump – Liam Adcock
High Jump – Eleanor Patterson
Javelin Throw – Mackenzie Little
Leave a Reply