Jamaican sprinting superstar Usain Bolt put his arm around Canadian upstart Andre De Grasse as the pair embraced the crowd at Rio's Olympic Stadium after the men鈥檚 100 meter final on Sunday; a moment many are hailing as a passing of the torch to the next generation of Olympic sprinting.
While Bolt鈥檚 exodus from competition is still a matter speculation, De Grasse鈥檚 first track coach believes the 21-year-old Markham, Ont.-native will become a leading force in the marquee event as he evolves as an athlete.
鈥淎s Andre continues to mature physically and gets a little stronger, he will definitely get faster,鈥� former coach Tony Sharpe told 麻豆影视 Channel. 鈥淭here are lots of big things ahead for Andre in terms of lowering his times.鈥�
Sharpe discovered De Grasse at a Southern Ontario high school track meet. De Grasse was supposed to watch a friend from the sidelines that day, but couldn鈥檛 deny his competitive side. He placed second wearing borrowed cleats and basketball shorts.
鈥淚 said, 鈥榃ho is that?鈥� Typically you don鈥檛 see walk-ons that compete that well,鈥� said Sharpe, himself a former 100- and 200-metre Canadian champion and Olympic teammate of Ben Johnson.
De Grasse was initially reluctant to embrace sprinting, but Sharpe convinced the high school student of his potential.
鈥淚 got introduced to him later on and told him I could help him. He joined the club and the rest is kind of history,鈥� he said.
De Grasse won the bronze medal for Canada in Sunday鈥檚 men鈥檚 100 meter final. Bolt overpowered second-place American Justin Gatlin, winning his third straight Olympic gold in the event.
Sharpe says De Grasse went into the race believing he would win. De Grasse鈥檚 qualifying time was four one-hundredths of a second quicker than Bolt - the reigning fastest man in the world.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not running for second, you鈥檙e not running for third, you鈥檙e running to win the hundred meters,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thought Andrew could win.鈥�
Sharpe says De Grasse is a mentally tough athlete known for keeping calm and performing well in competition.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember Andre going to any major competition where he didn鈥檛 do well, like had a bad day. It just doesn鈥檛 seem to happen,鈥� he said.
Sharpe鈥檚 biggest concern was De Grasse getting a good start to the race, since he鈥檚 not known for being fast off the blocks. He delivered an impressive 9.91 second personal-best time.
鈥淎 lot of athletes might perform well, but it鈥檚 more important to perform at the right time 鈥� that鈥檚 the kind of character he is.鈥�
Remuro Henry, De Grasse鈥檚 coach at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, also hailed the young sprinter鈥檚 performance in a chat with 麻豆影视 Channel.
鈥淚t was just amazing,鈥� Henry said of De Grasse鈥檚 bronze medal finish on Sunday. 鈥淵ou know, I Just broke down in tears鈥� I was sweating more than he was. I was going to pull my hair out!鈥�
Henry says that when he first met De Grasse, the Canadian runner was far from being the dedicated athlete that he is today.
鈥淗e was just a laid back guy,鈥� Henry reminisced. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 really know how talented he was -- and he really didn鈥檛 care too much for it.鈥�
That blasé attitude was gone on Sunday, Henry said. In its place was confidence, bravery and toughness.
鈥淚 told everybody he鈥檚 going to get better as he goes,鈥� Henry boasted. 鈥淥nce he鈥檚 up and running, other than Bolt, I don鈥檛 think anybody can touch him.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 just proud of him,鈥� Henry beamed. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say it enough.鈥�
