It will go down as one of the most exciting victories in Canadian Olympic history.
The Canadian men’s 4×100-metre relay team of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and anchor Andre De Grasse captured shocking gold on Friday at the Olympics.
“The best deodorant for doo-doo is an Olympic gold medal,” Brown told CBC Olympics. “So no matter what happens, we can cover up everything that happened if you finish and win with the gold and that’s exactly what we did. I love these guys and I wouldn’t be out here with anyone else.
“What can I say, we’re Olympic champions forever.”
Canada finished in 37.50 seconds, just ahead of South Africa (37.57). Great Britain was third in 37.61 seconds.
It is the seventh career Olympic medal for De Grasse, who has to be considered one of Canada’s greatest Olympians after this stirring performance while battling a hamstring injury. The native of Markham, Ont., is now tied with swimmer Penny Oleksiak for most medals ever won by a Canadian at the Olympics.
“It was all these guys right here, they did the work,” De Grasse told CBC Olympics. “Just watching them run, all I had to do was just high-step it and bring it home. They made my job easy and I’m just super grateful for this moment.”
The powerhouse Americans, missing star Noah Lyles (withdrew because of COVID-19), were disqualified after botching an exchange. Jamaica, a fellow power, failed to qualify for the final.
It is the third consecutive Olympic medal for Canada in this event after silver in 2021 and bronze in 2016. It is Canada’s first gold medal in the event since Donovan Bailey, current Team Canada chef de mission Bruny Surin, Robert Esmie and current track team coach Glenroy Gilbert stood on top of the podium in 1996 on a steamy summer night in Atlanta.
Many will say this was the most thrilling Summer Olympic triumph for Canada since Bailey’s individual and relay wins in Georgia.
“This is a team that’s going to go down in history,” Blake said. “At this point, we’re the new fast four. I’m sorry G-man, I’m sorry Bruny, I’m sorry Robert and Mr. Donovan Bailey, y’all step to the side now. It’s ours now.”
It is Canada’s 23rd medal and seventh gold at Paris 2024. The seventh gold ties a national record for most-ever won at a non-boycotted Summer Olympics.
“We had a meeting yesterday and what we talked about was simple: how do you want to leave Paris?” said Gilbert, who is the relay team’s coach, to CBC Olympics. “How do you want to leave the Olympic track here because there’s no guarantee any of us will be back in four years. So how do you want to leave it? Do you want to leave it with a medal? Do you want to leave it as one of the rest of the field?
“They decided tonight that they wanted to leave it as Olympic champions.”
Canada finished third in its heat in 38.39 seconds on Thursday to narrowly move on. The top three in each of the two heats and the next two best times earned spots in the final. Canada got the outside ninth lane for the final after eking out a spot.
De Grasse and the rest of the Canadian sprinters struggled in individual events. De Grasse didn’t even reach the final in the 100 or 200 metres.
After being eliminated in the 200 metres, De Grasse said he was battling a hamstring injury. But that didn’t matter come relay time.
“We had a belief in ourselves. The 4×100 is not all about how fast you run individually, it’s about how fast you run as a unit,” Blake said.
Brown was ecstatic.
“It’s the Mona Lisa, we’re in Paris right?” Brown said. “Hang it in the Louvre. Take this moment, take a picture of us four and hang it in the Louvre, We’re immortalized forever, baby.”
“I was actually sitting in the middle of the backstretch, actually the middle of the curve, so I watched Brendan come around the bend to hand off to Andre,” said Gilbert. “Being in the stadium to be able to see that … I couldn’t believe what I was watching.”
Canada finished second at the World Athletics relays in May, showing good form before the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Sade McCreath, Jacqueline Madogo, Marie-Eloise Leclair and Audrey Leduc finished sixth in the women’s 4×100-metre relay in 42.69 seconds in pouring rain.
The United States, anchored by 100-metre silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson, won in 41.78 seconds, just ahead of Great Britain (41.85). Germany was third in 41.97.
Canada clocked a national-record time of 42.50 seconds in its heat Thursday to finish fourth and earn a spot in Friday’s final. It was the seventh-fastest time among the eight finalists.
Canada finished seventh in this event at the World Athletics relays.
