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That was the scene ahead of the year 12 student from Brisbane’s senior debut at they World Athletics Championships showing just how much the world is watching.

A 45-minute press conference, organised by Adidas who signed Gout to a million-dollar sponsorship deal before he’s even won a race against adults, delivered his backstory and his ambitions before he takes to the track in the 200m against the world’s best.

While expectations are high for the 17-year-old, Gout set his own bar for success and was clear what he’s be happy to leave Tokyo having achieved.

“A PB, regardless of where I come, is definitely a big success,” Gout said.

“And if I can make it out of the semis then even better. Making it into the final is a big success.”

Known to his school friends as GG or Double G at Ipswich Grammar, where he’ll return for exams after the event, Gout wants to break through the 20-second barrier, with a personal best of 20.02 putting it within touching distance.

He could also possibly become just the fourth Australian man, and the first since 2005, to make the 200m final should he hit a new personal best mark.

For Gout, it’s as much mental as physical, knowing he’s competing against men while being, at least in age, still a boy.

“It’s about mentally telling myself that I deserve to be here, that I’m the same as everyone else,” he said.

“Obviously my first experience at this level so I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself.

“But also putting on enough pressure so I can go out there and run very fast and have fun with it.”

The world is eagerly anticipating what Gout might do not only now, but also in the future.

Regardless of what he wins and when, however, Gout was more modest in answering questions about how things may end up for him and how he should be regarded, should his career travel on the trajectory most expect.

“Definitely being someone people can look at and feel like ‘he was good, he was that guy, he was able to compete for global medals and things of that nature’,” he said.

“Being an inspiration to people older than me, people younger than me, people the same age.

“Being able to be that someone who started off as a nobody and became someone really, really good.”