Andre De Grasse has won gold in the men’s 200-metre final at the Tokyo Olympics, marking the first time a Canadian has won the event since 1928 and just the third time ever.
With a personal best and Canadian record, De Grasse crossed the line in 19.62 seconds.
“It feels amazing,” De Grasse said. “Won the gold. Had a personal best. I couldn’t have asked for more. This was the race of my life.”
Gold had been the only Olympic medal missing from De Grasse’s collection. The 26-year-old from Markham, Ont., raced to bronze in the 100 metres on Monday in Tokyo, and captured a silver and two bronze in 2016 in Rio. He’s raced to a silver and three bronze at the 2015 and ’19 world championships.
The win, which comes 25 years after Canadian Donovan Bailey raced to 100-metre gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, makes De Grasse a five-time Olympic medallist.
“I’ll see you soon,” De Grasse told his family, his partner, Nia Ali, and kids in the virtual athlete zone after the race. “I love you guys. I’ll Facetime you later. I can’t believe it. Oh my god. I did it.”
Canadian Aaron Brown finished in sixth with a time of 20.20.
Brown ran a 19.19 to win his semifinal heat, beating out Joseph Fahnbulleh of Libera and Noah Lyles of the United States in a photo finish.
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