Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Andre De Grasse is enjoying the high of being a gold medalist once again.
The 29-year-old from Markham, Ont., ended a tumultuous Olympics in August by anchoring Canada’s men’s 4×100-metre relay team to gold, Canada’s first since 1996. De Grasse has been in Toronto the last couple of weeks for the Toronto International Film Festival and several other commitments.
“Just feel the love,” she said. “Enjoy the ride, enjoy the highs and have fun in the process. It’s a surreal moment.”
The Paris relay medal was De Grasse’s seventh, tying him with swimmer Penny Oleksiak as Canada’s most decorated summer Olympian.
The City of Markham is honoring him, along with other Olympians and Paralympians who call the city home, with a parade on Sunday. Mayor Frank Scarpitti also announced August 9 to be Andre De Grasse Day.
Picking up medal number 7, and a second gold, is something De Grasse feels has helped cement his legacy.
“A lot of people, when I came home, didn’t even talk about (all the adversity I faced),” said De Grasse. “They were talking about how, ‘we were watching you on TV, it was amazing how you brought it home to Canada.’ We made history.
“Just to get that acceptance from people, and what was the last thing that crossed their minds and only me now being tied for the most decorated in Canada with my good friend Penny. It was just a surreal feeling.
“Now the city I grew up in is throwing me a parade. I look forward to that reception. I hope I don’t get too emotional compared to last time (in 2016).”
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De Grasse missed an Olympic final for the first time in his career, failing to reach the 100 and 200 in Paris. After missing the 200 final, he revealed that he had re-aggravated a hamstring injury suffered a month out from the Olympics.
The showing created some doubt as to whether De Grasse could be over the hill. But De Grasse says he is looking forward to making the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“As long as I have sponsors supporting me and believing in me financially and can keep going, I’m going to go,” he said. “I ran my fastest time this year in over three years and I still felt like I wasn’t 100 per cent.
“I know if I can get back to that 100 percent, and not have any nick-nacks, I’m doing everything right, I can still compete at a high level. One of the medal winners (American Fred Kerley) in the 100 meters, he’s my age, … so it’s not like I feel like I’m old and can’t keep going. I feel my body is still good, I just have to make sure I do the right things looking after it.”
Her coach, Rana Reider, was also revoked by the Canadian Olympic Committee a day before the 200 semi-final in Paris.
British media had reported that the decision was linked to concerns about the “protection” of athletes and allegations of sexual and emotional abuse, and court documents filed in Broward County, Fla., show that three women filed suit against Reider involving sexual and alleged allegations. emotional abuse.
Reider has not been charged with any crime and the allegations have not been proven in court.
De Grasse said he found out about the situation with Reider at the same time the public did, and that it was difficult to deal with. He also said he would re-evaluate things, including his coaching situation, once he returned to his home in Florida in a few weeks.
Despite it all, with the support of his team, Canada pulled from third to first in the relay with an 8.89 second anchor leg to avoid leaving the Olympics without a medal for the first time.
“It’s hard,” he said. “My last two Games, I’ve had so much success winning six Olympic medals and now on the biggest stage of my career – of course I’ve faced adversity along the way between the Olympics but now going into the Games facing the adversity of not being 100 per cent and no full mental confidence in myself also now because of the situation (with my coach).”
“That’s probably one of the best medals I’ve ever won, outside of my gold in the 200 (in Tokyo),” De Grasse added. “He’s got to be in the top two now for sure because, just (for) what it took mentally to get there.”
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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