The greatest stages in sports are where Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse shines the brightest, proving that the bigger the limelight, the better he performs.
The 29-year-old six-time Olympic medallist is known for starting slowly, even though he hasn’t yet turned in any particularly noteworthy performances this season. When it counts most, De Grasse is a strong competitor because of his amazing ability to step up his game when the Olympic torch is ignited.
De Grasse stated, “It’s the greatest stage imaginable, something you’ve been striving for, you’ve worked really hard and given up a lot for these opportunities, and all you want is to give it your all.”
“I’m inspired and motivated to just go out there and give it my best when I put on that bib and that (Canada) uniform because I know that I’m representing more than just myself—I’m representing my country, my family, and my friends.”
Andre De Grasse, the winner of the Olympic 200 metres, showed patience by participating in minor meets, which led to his first sub-20-second time of the season on Tuesday at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary.
But patience can be hard to come by these days, with competitors like American Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek establishing high standards this season with fastest marks of 19.53 and 19.59 seconds, respectively.
“They have a different plan than I have; therefore, it is difficult to remain patient.” De Grasse said.
L.A. Olympics
Andre De Grasse is the most decorated male Summer Olympian from Canada, with six medals, and he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
De Grasse, who is partnering with Invisalign for a promotional campaign, is excited about competing in Tokyo at next year’s World Championships. In 2020, he won Olympic gold in front of an empty stadium because of the COVID-19 pandemic. De Grasse hopes to continue his athletic career at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Basketball star De Grasse ran a high school 100-metre race from a standing start while wearing basketball shorts and borrowed spikes.
This unanticipated display of speed came before his well-known sprinting career. Tony Sharpe, the coach at the University of Southern California, was impressed by De Grasse’s outstanding performance, which helped him win the NCAA 100- and 200-metre titles before becoming a pro.