Canada's Andre De Grasse wins bronze at Olympic 100 m final

Aug 15 2016, 7:13 am

Canada’s Andre De Grasse has won bronze in the 100-metre sprint at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Usain Bolt (Jamaica) won the race with a time of 9.81 seconds, Gatlin (USA) was second (9.89), and De Grasse third at 9.91. De Grasse’s time set a new personal best, which was 0.02 seconds faster than Jamaican Yohan Blake, who finished fourth.

“After having an up and down season with injuries this year, I can’t complain about the bronze medal,” De Grasse told CBC after the race. “It was the best shape I’ve ever been in and I came away with a personal best.”

This is Canada’s first medal in the 100-metre sprint since Donovan Bailey won gold in 1996.

De Grasse, who is just 21, looks to have a bright future. With Bolt likely competing in his last Olympics, De Grasse could be the heir apparent.

“He feels like I’m the next one and I’m just trying to live up to it,” De Grasse said of his conversation with Bolt. Bolt clearly respects De Grasse, and the bond that the two sprinters have was apparent in semi-final and the final, when they raced in neighbouring lanes.

Image: CBC

Image: CBC

“It was an amazing race, I’m feeling pretty good right now, I can’t complain,” a humble De Grasse said. “To be able to race against Usain and Gatlin, and being part of the same race as them and part of history today in Rio, it was a great feeling for me.”

Bolt has become the first person to ever win this race in three consecutive Olympics, further cementing his legacy.

This medal extends Canada’s medal streak at these Olympics, with at least a medal for the first nine days of the Games, a new Canadian record. It’s also Canada’s 13th medal won, and the first to be won by a male athlete in Rio.

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