From the pool to the track and beyond, Canada made history at the Paris Olympics
CBC
In a race few picked Canada to win, Andre De Grasse anchored the men's 4x100m relay team to gold for the first time in nearly 30 years.
They qualified for the final with the slowest time, running in a less-than-ideal lane. But these four men never gave up on each other, and their chemistry helped them become Olympic relay champions.
"I never stopped believing," said gold medallist Aaron Brown. "These guys can do incredible things when we get together and put our minds to it."
It was the latest chapter in the story of one of Canada's greatest Olympians. De Grasse is now tied with swimmer Penny Oleksiak as the most decorated Canadian Olympian of all time with seven medals, and his story is still being written.
It was also a reminder of the magic of the Olympics. If you have a lane, you have a chance, and anyone can write a great story that Canadians will remember forever.
WATCH | De Grasse and the relay team's stunning comeback:
And Canada's athletes have written many great stories in these Summer Games, which officially end with the closing ceremony on Sunday. Canada has earned 27 medals, including nine gold. It's more than any other non-boycotted Summer Games, and the majority have been won by women, which isn't a new trend.
It started on day one with Summer McIntosh, the 17-year-old swimming sensation who raced American legend Katie Ledecky for silver in the women's 400m freestyle.
"I remember watching the 2016 Olympics and just being inspired [by] everyone on Team Canada," McIntosh said after winning her third gold medal of the Games, in the 200-metre individual medley.
"But growing up since the age of seven or eight, it's always been a dream of mine to make an Olympic team and to now have medals to my name is pretty incredible."
WATCH | Paris 2024 just the beginning for McIntosh:
Ilya Kharun and Josh Liendo became the first Canadian men to earn swimming medals since 2012, while Kylie Masse cemented her legacy in the pool as the only Canadian swimmer to win individual medals at three consecutive Games.
Canadians made history in a number of sports during these Games, including some that haven't always been Canada's strength.
Christa Deguchi won the country's first gold medal in judo, three years after missing the cut for Tokyo and almost walking away from the sport for good.
