Andre De Grasse soaking up the moment, enjoying reception after Olympic gold in Paris
CBC
Andre De Grasse is enjoying the high of being a gold medallist once again.
The 29-year-old from Markham, Ont., capped off an adversity-filled Olympics in August by anchoring Canada's men's 4x100-metre relay team to gold, a first for Canada since 1996. De Grasse has been in Toronto the last couple of weeks for the Toronto International Film Festival and several other commitments.
"Just feeling the love," he said. "Enjoying the ride, enjoying the highs and just having fun in the process. It's a surreal moment."
The Paris relay medal was De Grasse's seventh, tying him with swimmer Penny Oleksiak as Canada's most decorated summer Olympians.
The City of Markham is honouring him, along with other Olympians and Paralympians who call the city home, with a parade on Sunday. Mayor Frank Scarpitti also proclaimed Aug. 9 to be Andre De Grasse Day.
Picking up medal No. 7, and a second gold, is something De Grasse feels has helped cement his legacy.
"A lot of people, when I came home, weren't even talking about [all the adversity I faced]," De Grasse said. "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.
"Just to get that reception from people, and what was the last thing that crossed their minds and just me being now tied for most decorated in Canada with my good friend Penny. It was just a surreal feeling.
"Now the city that I grew up in is throwing me a parade. I'm just looking forward to that reception. Hopefully I don't get too emotional compared to last time [in 2016]."
WATCH | De Grasse anchors Canadian relay team to gold in Paris:
De Grasse missed an Olympic final for the first time in his career, failing to make it in both the 100 and 200 in Paris. After missing the 200 final, he revealed that he had re-aggravated a hamstring injury he suffered a month out from the Olympics.
The showing built some skepticism about whether De Grasse may be over the hill. But De Grasse says he looks ahead to making 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," he said. "I ran my fastest time this year in over three years and I still felt like I wasn't 100 per cent.
"I know if I can get back to that 100 per cent, and not have no nick-nacks, I do everything right, I can still compete at a high level. One of the medallists [American Fred Kerley] in the 100 metres, he's my age, ... so it's not like I feel like I'm old and can't keep going. I feel like my body's still good, I just have to make sure that I do the right things taking care of it."
