TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse quenched his thirst for Olympic gold after finishing first in the men’s 200m Olympic TOkyo at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday.
André De Grasse, who won bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m at Rio 2016, eventually won the main 200m podium at Tokyo 2020. He clocked a time of 19.26 seconds, making him the eighth runner the fastest in the world, it has been reported. Reuters.
Andre De Grasse, 26, became the first Olympic 200m gold medalist after being dominated by Jamaican sprinters in the previous three editions. Usain Bolt who retired in 2017.
“I’ve been through so much over the past five years, both on and off the track,” he said of the hamstring problems he still has after the Olympics from Rio 2016 and a serious injury from mononucleosis.
“In 2016 I was young and inexperienced, but now I can have a chance to win a medal and I want to show the world that even though I have had injuries I can bring home a gold medal” said De Grasse, who won bronze in the men’s 100m in Tokyo last weekend.
The 26-year-old was initially in third place when he reached the turn. But he hit the gas to pass his American rivals in the final 40m to claim the victory and break Canada’s national record in the 200m.
“I knew the American runners would push me faster and make me run at the best level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United States, which won the 200m medal in Athens in 2004, must now settle for a silver medal and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Kenneth Bednarek was second at 19.68, followed by Noah Lyles third at 19.74.
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