)
Andre De Grasse returned to Markham for a celebratory parade after overcoming adversity to win Olympic gold in Paris.
Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse returned home to a hero’s welcome in Markham, Ontario, where a celebratory parade was held in his honor on Sunday.
The event, organized by the city, recognized De Grasse’s remarkable achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he anchored Canada’s men’s 4x100-metre relay team to a historic gold medal victory — the first for Canada in this event since 1996.
The 29-year-old Olympian, who now ties with swimmer Penny Oleksiak as Canada’s most decorated summer athlete with seven medals, was greeted by throngs of fans and supporters.
)
15:30 - 23.09.2024
'It’s been an absolutely crazy year' – Femke Bol reflects on impressive 2024 season
Dutch track star Femke Bol reflects on her exceptional 2024 season after winning multiple Olympic medals and Diamond League titles.
Many of them waved flags, cheered, and held signs congratulating De Grasse and fellow Olympians and Paralympians from the region.
The hometown parade, which was part of a broader effort by the city to celebrate local athletic excellence, marked a significant moment in De Grasse’s career.
“Just feeling the love,” De Grasse said about his return home.
“Enjoying the ride, enjoying the highs, and just having fun in the process. It's a surreal moment.”
De Grasse’s performance in Paris was nothing short of remarkable, given the challenges he faced leading up to the Games.
After battling a hamstring injury just a month before the Olympics and dealing with the sudden loss of his coach’s accreditation on the eve of competition, De Grasse faced more adversity than ever before.
)
09:00 - 23.09.2024
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shares lessons learnt at University of Kentucky after Hall of Fame induction
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflects on her time at the University of Kentucky after being inducted into their Hall of Fame.
Despite these hurdles, he pulled off an unforgettable anchor leg, running 8.89 seconds to take Canada from third place to first in the relay final.
Reflecting on the medal, De Grasse emphasized how much this victory meant to him: “That’s probably one of the best medals I’ve ever won, outside of my gold in the 200 [in Tokyo]. It’s got to be in the top two now for sure because, just [for] what it took mentally to get there.”
In addition to the parade, the City of Markham declared August 9 as "Andre De Grasse Day" in recognition of his contributions to Canadian sports and his inspirational journey.
)
21:00 - 22.09.2024
American icon on why Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has 'broken' the 400mH despite Femke Bol's Diamond League triumph
Justin Gatlin on why Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has 'broken' 400mH running following Femke Bol's 52.45 Diamond League trophy-winning run in Brussels.
The honor was a significant acknowledgment of De Grasse’s legacy, which continues to grow with each Olympic appearance. Picking up his seventh medal and second gold has only further cemented his place in Canada’s athletic history.
"A lot of people, when I came home, weren’t even talking about [all the adversity I faced]," De Grasse shared.
"They were just talking about how, ‘we were watching you on TV, it was just incredible how you brought it home for Canada.’ We made history."
)
00:58 - 18.09.2023
ATHLETICS Andre De Grasse wins 200m to claim his first Diamond League Trophy
The Canadian runner commanded the race from the start to claim the Prefontaine Classic honours in Eugene
However, De Grasse’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. He missed both the 100m and 200m finals for the first time in his career in Paris, with a re-aggravated hamstring injury limiting his performance. Yet, he remains optimistic about the future, setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
"As long as I have sponsors backing me and believing in me financially and I'm able to keep going, I'm going to go," De Grasse said.
"I ran my fastest time this year in over three years and I still felt like I wasn’t 100 per cent.”
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)