Gout Gout’s appearance in Tokyo may have ended without a place in the final. But surely enough, the conversation has scarcely been about the result. What has commanded attention is the way a 17-year-old has announced himself as something far beyond a fleeting junior prospect. His time of 20.36 in the semi-finals may not have secured qualification, yet it surpassed the performance of Usain Bolt at the same age and stage. And this has provided him with the luxury of having his name etched beside a legendary track and field athlete.

The comparisons with Bolt were inevitable once Gout produced 20.23 in the opening round. At 17, Bolt’s times still suggested a body not yet fully prepared for the demands of senior competition. But this Aussie star has already pulled off the speed and the competi

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