Andre De Grasse facts for kids
De Grasse at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon
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| Born | 10 November 1994 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 176 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Coffeyville Red Ravens (2013–2014) USC Trojans (2015) |
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| Club | ALTIS (2015–2018) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Puma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Andre De Grasse (born 10 November 1994) is a Canadian sprinter. He is famous for winning many medals in track and field. Andre has won seven Olympic medals, making him one of Canada's most successful Olympians ever. He is tied with swimmer Penny Oleksiak for the most Olympic medals won by a Canadian.
Andre won a gold medal in the 200-meter race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also won a gold medal with the Canadian 4x100-meter relay team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has also won silver and bronze medals at the Olympics in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4x100-meter relay events.
At the World Athletics Championships, Andre won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay in 2022. He also has individual silver and bronze medals from these championships. Andre holds the Canadian record for the 200-meter race, running it in 19.62 seconds. This makes him one of the fastest men in history over that distance. He is known for being a consistent athlete who often finishes on the podium in major races.
Contents
Andre's Early Life and Start in Sports
Andre De Grasse was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. His mother was a sprinter in Trinidad and Tobago. His father moved to Canada from Barbados. Andre grew up in Markham, Ontario. He went to Catholic elementary and high schools there.
From Basketball to Track
Andre first loved playing basketball in high school. He even played against future NBA star Andrew Wiggins. In his very first track race, he wore basketball shorts and borrowed running spikes. He also started from a standing position, not using the starting blocks. Even with this, he finished second in the 100-meter race!
A coach named Tony Sharpe saw Andre's natural talent. He invited Andre to join a track club called Speed Academy. This was the beginning of Andre's amazing sprinting career.
College Years and Big Wins
Andre went to Coffeyville Community College for two years. Then, he moved to the USC in 2015. While at USC, he started to get a lot of attention.
In May 2015, Andre ran the 100-meter race in 9.97 seconds. This was his first time running under 10 seconds. He was the first Canadian to do this since Bruny Surin. At the NCAA Championships, he won both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. He beat other top sprinters, showing he was a rising star.
Andre's Professional Athletics Career
Andre became a professional athlete in December 2015. He signed a big deal with the sports brand Puma.
2015: Pan Am Games and First World Medals
Andre won the Canadian 100-meter title with a personal best time. Then, he competed at the 2015 Pan American Games in his home province of Ontario. He won gold medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. His 200-meter time of 19.88 seconds was a new Canadian record. He became the first Canadian to run both a 100-meter race under 10 seconds and a 200-meter race under 20 seconds.
Later in 2015, Andre went to the World Championships in Beijing, China. He made headlines when he almost beat the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt in the 100-meter semi-finals. In the final, Andre tied for the bronze medal in the 100-meter race. This was a huge achievement for him. He also won a second bronze medal in the 4x100-meter relay with his Canadian teammates.
2016: Olympic Debut in Rio
Andre went to the Rio Olympics with high hopes. He easily reached the 100-meter final. In the semi-finals, he ran side-by-side with Usain Bolt, smiling as they crossed the finish line. Andre won the bronze medal in the 100-meter final, setting a new personal best. He was the first Canadian man to win a medal at those Olympics.
In the 200-meter race, Andre and Bolt again ran next to each other in the semi-finals. Andre pushed Bolt, and they both smiled as they finished. Andre set a new Canadian record of 19.80 seconds. In the final, he won the silver medal, finishing behind Bolt.
Andre also ran the final part of the 4x100-meter relay. The Canadian team finished fourth, setting a new national record. However, the American team was disqualified, so Canada was awarded the bronze medal! This gave Andre his third medal of the Rio Olympics.
2017: Injuries and Challenges
Andre started the 2017 season well, winning some Diamond League races. He was a strong favorite for the 200-meter world title. He also hoped to beat Usain Bolt in the 100-meter race before Bolt retired. However, just days before the World Championships, Andre strained his hamstring. This injury forced him to miss the events, ending his goal of racing Bolt one last time.
2018: More Injury Struggles
Andre continued to struggle with his hamstring injury in 2018. He had to withdraw from the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He also couldn't defend his national 100-meter title. After these injuries, Andre changed coaches and moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
2019: Strong Comeback
Andre slowly returned to top form in 2019. He won a Diamond League 200-meter race, beating the world champion. He also ran under 10 seconds in the 100-meter race for the first time in three years.
At the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Andre showed he was back. He won the bronze medal in the 100-meter race, setting a new personal best. He then won the silver medal in the 200-meter race. This was the first World Championship medal for a Canadian in the 200-meter race since 1991.
2021: Tokyo Olympic Gold
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many events to be canceled or delayed, including the 2020 Olympics. Andre continued to train and prepare.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), Andre was a top medal contender. He easily won his 100-meter heat with a fast time. In the final, he started a bit slow but powered through to win his second bronze medal in the 100-meter event.
Next, Andre competed in the 200-meter race. In the semi-final, he set a new personal best and Canadian record of 19.73 seconds. Then, in the 200-meter final, Andre won the gold medal! He set another personal best and Canadian record of 19.62 seconds. This was Canada's first track gold medal since 1996 and the first 200-meter gold since 1928.
Hours after his gold medal, Andre ran the final part of the 4x100-meter relay. The Canadian team finished second, earning a silver medal. This was Andre's sixth Olympic medal, tying him with other Canadian Olympic legends.
2022: World Championship Relay Gold
The 2022 season was tough for Andre due to a foot injury and getting COVID-19. He still competed at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He didn't make the 100-meter final and withdrew from the 200-meter race due to his health.
However, Andre was ready for the 4x100-meter relay. The Canadian team, with Andre running the anchor leg, won the gold medal! They beat the strong American team in a big upset. This was Andre's first major championship gold medal in a relay. The team also broke the national record they had set in Rio.
2023: Diamond League Champion
Andre faced more challenges in 2023, including changing coaches again. He struggled to run his fastest times early in the season. He didn't qualify for the 100-meter final at the World Championships. In the 200-meter final, he finished sixth, which was the first time he didn't win a medal in a World or Olympic final.
Despite these difficulties, Andre reached the Diamond League final for the 200-meter race. He surprised many by winning the title with a season-best time of 19.76 seconds. He became the first Canadian sprinter to win a Diamond League title.
2024: Paris Olympic Gold
Andre was chosen to be a co-flagbearer for Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His individual races were challenging. He didn't make the finals for either the 100-meter or 200-meter events. He also had a hamstring issue.
However, the Canadian 4x100-meter relay team surprised everyone. They finished third in their heat, barely making the final. But in the final, the Canadians ran a season-best time and won the gold medal! This was a huge upset, especially after the favored American team had a mistake with their baton exchange. This gold medal was Andre's seventh Olympic medal, tying the Canadian record. It also made him one of the greatest Canadian Olympic sprinters ever.
2025: New Coach and Season Start
Andre started training with a new coach, Mike Holloway, in Gainesville, Florida. He competed in some early races, winning the 200-meter and leading his relay team to gold at the Florida Relays. At the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, Andre helped the Canadian 4x100-meter relay team win a bronze medal. He ran the final leg, passing other sprinters to secure the podium finish.
Andre's Community Work
Andre is not just a great athlete; he also gives back to his community. In 2016, he started the Andre De Grasse Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament. This event raises money for the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation. He also appears at WE Day events, which inspire young people to make a difference.
Andre's Personal Life
Andre is married to American hurdler Nia Ali. They have two children together. Andre is Catholic and has the word "hope" and a prayer tattooed on his arm.
Awards and Recognition
Andre's amazing success has earned him many honors. He won the 2016 Lionel Conacher Award as Canada's male athlete of the year. The IAAF (now World Athletics) gave him the Rising Star Award. He also received a Harry Jerome Award and was made a member of the Order of Ontario in 2022.
Images for kids
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Andre De Grasse after he ran the anchor leg to win the 4 × 100 m relay at the World Championships in Oregon.
See also
In Spanish: Andre De Grasse para niños
