TOKYO: Gout Gout has the gift of speed. Serious speed. He also has the gift of the gab.

"It's a free hit," he said of the semi-final run awaiting him. "I'll just go out there, run like a horse, run like the wind, you know?"

The world's fastest schoolboy was chatting to a heaving press pack after running his heat of the men's 200 metres at the world athletics championships on Wednesday night.

He nailed his heat, galloping down the home straight at Japan's Olympic stadium and dashing across the line in third place.

Mission accomplished.

On Thursday night, he'll be lacing up again.

"Hopefully I get a start … and I'm off like a butterfly," the 17-year-old said.

The zingers kept on coming.

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"I'm just doing my

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