The expectations around the Australian teenage phenom Gout Gout were always high. When he broke his own 200m time with a 20.02 record at the Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic three months ago, they only grew. Specifically, his successful debut at the World Athletics Competition stage looked more promising than ever. But while the 17-year-old entered the semi-finals easily with a 20.23-second performance in the heats, he couldn’t repeat it on Thursday night. Gout’s journey in Tokyo will end with his 20.36-second, fourth-position finish, 0.58 seconds behind Jamaican Bryan Levell. Still, he has found his friend and mentor rooting for him in Noah Lyles.

The American broke this year’s world record when he clocked an impressive 19.51 seconds. But he also knows what losing means. And so, during a post-race interview with Citius Mag, he chose to look towards the brighter side for Gout. He said, “I mean, more talented than I was. You know, I mean, this is nothing but great talent coming up. He’s an amazing kid. You know, you got a great head on him. You got a great team around him. You know, it’s going to be interesting to see how he develops. 

“You know, the thing that I always look for when I’m looking at younger talent is, ‘Hey, are you just going to be able to train into shape?’ One, because when you’re in high school, you’re able to just get like races all the time whenever you want. But as a pro, you got to race, you know, you got to come prepared already. And then two, just seeing how they put some, you know, weight room on him as time develops, you know, naturally, not just like all at once. The future looks bright for him.”

Indeed, Gout’s exit also helped him build a stronger case for his future. This year, he was the youngest sprinter at the 200m World Athletics Competition. And even though he finished fourth, his time of 20.36 seconds was faster than legend Usain Bolt’s 20.68 seconds in his first semi-final at a senior world championships in Helsinki two decades ago. In fact, even in that week, Bolt was two weeks short of his 19th birthday. On the other hand, Gout won’t be 18 until December 29. And like everyone else cheering for the Australian, he, too, is not losing hope.

After his race, Gout Gout said, “It’s really good. I mean, semi-finalist and go out there and compete against the big guys and I just couldn’t be prouder of myself. Just take away everything for sure – take away how to handle the pressure, how to handle the pool rooms, just everything about it.

“All the things you wouldn’t really expect about the world championship is what I’m going to take away this short. So just to put that on my head and just continue forward the path. The biggest eye-opener is knowing that I can compete at the young age I am against the best men in the world.”

Next, Gout will return to Brisbane to complete his QCE exams, but not before watching Friday’s final. If you didn’t know who he would be rooting for, he made his intentions clear: “It’s definitely going to be a great final to watch, I’m going to be cheering for Noah for sure.” The American, on the other hand, is certainly the hottest to-watch sprinter. But apart from his on-track talents, he’s also trending for his efforts outside the field.

Noah Lyles engaged in helping out his peers

While getting ready in the call room before the heat, Noah Lyles and Canada’s Andre de Grasse spotted their Jamaican rival, Christopher Taylor, looking a bit nervous about the race. But fortunately for the 26-year-old 400m sprinter entering a 200m event, experienced sprinters in his heat helped him out. In his post-race interview, Lyles mentioned, “Oh yeah, we were in the call room, and me and Andre were sitting next to each other, and [Taylor] was on the other side of Andre. Andre was like, ‘Hey man, why do you look nervous?’ He was like, ‘I am nervous.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, bro, there ain’t nothing to be nervous about; it’s just a first round, it’s just another 200.’”

Lyles went on to explain the situation, saying, “He’s like, ‘How do you not be nervous?’ I said, ‘Well, you can start by uncrossing your hands and relaxing your jaw and just realize it’s another 200; you’ll be good.’ He’s like, ‘Just do what your coach said. Your coach is probably gonna… your coach knows best.’ I’m like, ‘I’m my own coach. Do what you said; I’m pretty sure you know best.’”

Based on his own experiences and the mentality that enabled him to achieve success in the sport, Lyles offered his counsel. Having faced significant pressure himself, such as competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics while dealing with COVID-19, he truly understands the mental challenges that athletes face. He wasn’t just going over the technical details; he was diving into Taylor’s mindset, boosting his confidence in his preparation, and really helping him embrace the moment. That’s pretty cool of him to help out those in need. He definitely looks out for the well-being of others!