A CANADIAN with roots in Barbados and Trinidadian is now one of the elite sprinters on the world stage, having won the 200 metres men’s final at the 2020-2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, this morning.
He is Andre DeGrasse, son of Beverley DeGrasse, who was born in Trinidad, and the late Alex Waithe, a Barbadian.
With a superb strategy today that saw him powering out of the turn, the 26-year-old sprinter won the 200-metres gold medal, adding to his tally at these Games after winning bronze in the 100 metres earlier in the week. He has now copped five Olympic medals overall.
His amazing run today gave Canada a gold medal in that event for the first time in 92 years and set a Canadian record of 19.62 seconds. He also surpassed Team USA star trio of Kenneth Bednarek, who took silver, Noah Lyles, who took bronze and 17-year-old super talent Erriyon Knighton, who finished fourth.
His previous Olympic medals were three bronze in the 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay in 2016.
He is married to American track and field star, Nia Ali, who has a daughter for him and a son from another Olympian.
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