Andre De Grasse

During his high school, Andre De Grasse’s primary focus was basketball. He even competed against future NBA player Andrew Wiggins from Vaughan Secondary School. He entered into the world of track during the York Region Championships, where he participated in the 100m race wearing basketball shorts and borrowed spikes. In spite of his lack of experience, De Grasse placed second in the 100m final with a time of 10.91 seconds, third overall in the 200m with 22.64 seconds, and seventh overall in the long jump at 5.88 meters.

Impressed by his raw talent and ability to perform well without starting blocks or appropriate racing gear, Tony Sharpe, who later became De Grasse’s coach, invited him to join Pickering’s Speed Academy. After beginning his training with Sharpe at The Speed Academy, Andre De Grasse attended Coffeyville Community College between 2013 and 2014. He then transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) for the 2015 junior season.

Competing for USC, De Grasse made history in May 2015 by becoming the first Canadian since Bruny Surin to run a legal 100m time under 10 seconds, clocking in at 9.97 seconds to win the Pac-12 championship. In the 200m, he broke the Canadian record with a time of 20.03 seconds and came close to the record again in the final with a time of 20.05 seconds. De Grasse’s talent gained international recognition at the NCAA Championships when he triumphed in both the 100m and 200m races, surpassing the favored Trayvon Bromell.

Andre De Grasse first gained attention at the Pan American Games in Ontario in 2015, where he claimed a gold medal in the 100-meter event, finishing in 10.05 seconds. Later that year, during the World Championships, De Grasse made waves by nearly outpacing Usain Bolt, though Bolt ultimately prevailed. In the final race, De Grasse shared the bronze medal with Trayvon Bromell, achieving a new personal record of 9.92 seconds and becoming the first Canadian to win a medal in the event since 1999.

Andre De Grasse entered the Rio Olympics 2016 as a strong contender for a medal. He advanced to the 100m finals with relative ease and went on to win a bronze medal with a new personal record of 9.91 seconds, trailing only Bolt and Justin Gatlin. In the 200m event, De Grasse captured a silver medal, marking the first time a Canadian had achieved this feat since the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

Injuries affected De Grasse’s performance in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Nonetheless, he was chosen to represent Canada at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, where he secured a bronze medal and set a new personal record of 9.90 seconds. De Grasse was also named to the 2020 Canadian Olympic team and was regarded as a top contender for a medal. After earning a bronze in the men’s 100m, he won the gold in the men’s 200m final, setting both personal and Canadian records with a timing of 19.62 seconds. Unfortunately, injuries persisted in hindering his performance throughout the 2022 season.

Born in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Andre De Grasse has strong athletic roots. His mother, Beverley De Grasse, was a high school sprinter in Trinidad and Tobago before relocating to Canada at the age of 26. His father, Alexander Waithe, also hails from the Caribbean, having migrated from Barbados to Canada during his teenage years. Growing up in Markham, Ontario, De Grasse attended St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic Elementary School from kindergarten to second grade before transferring to Mother Teresa Catholic School in Markham. There, he completed his education until eighth grade, during which he emerged victorious in his first race in 2006. De Grasse continued his education at Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy and Milliken Mills High School. Andre De Grasse is married to Nia Ali, an accomplished American hurdler. The couple has two children together: their daughter, Yuri, born in June 2018, and another child born in May 2021.