Canada’s Andre De Grasse made a statement on this steamy Saturday night at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, posting the fastest time out of the seven opening-round heats for the 100-metre dash
They don’t crown the fastest man in the world until the final, but this is a very good sign.
Canada’s Andre De Grasse made a statement on this steamy night at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, posting the speediest time in any of seven opening-round heats for the 100-metre dash.
De Grasse sizzled to a 9.91, just one-hundredth of a second shy of his personal-best.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow night,” he beamed. “I’m ready. I’m ready to go.”
Saying it is one thing.
More importantly, he showed it.
De Grasse loaded up with three medals at Rio 2016, including bronze in the 100m, and has been billed ever since as the possible heir apparent to now-retired sprint king Usain Bolt. In his first race at Tokyo 2020, the 26-year-old from Markham, Ont., only solidified his status as one of the favourites for that throne.
Both the semi-finals and gold-medal showdown are slated for Sunday.