He didn’t make the final but Gout Gout made a statement.

The 17-year-old finished fourth in the semifinal of the 200 metres at the World Athletics Championship last night but walked away with crucial self-belief and invaluable experience, say leading Australian athletics figures Bruce McAvaney and Matt Shirvington.

Legendary broadcaster McAvaney predicted the result in the Tokyo rain would make the Ispwich student “hungry” for success and said he had the potential to become Australia’s best-ever track and field athlete.

“Remember that there were 24 athletes who made the semifinals, and he was four years younger than any of them. So he’s a babe in the woods, so to speak,” McAvaney told The Nightly.

“He didn’t run close to his fastest times. That’s got a lot to do with conditions.

“I th

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