Andre De Grasse says he’s still recovering from foot injury

TORONTO –

Regardless of Andre De Grasse’s scorching anchor leg that secured Canada an exciting relay victory on the world observe and discipline championships, the dash star nonetheless is not feeling again at full well being.

After a number of months of battling an foot damage, then contracting COVID-19 a month earlier than the world championships, De Grasse may shut down his season now and deal with subsequent yr.

“To be sincere, it has been a battle,” De Grasse mentioned. “I do not really feel like I’ve like 100 per cent of my vitality again. I believe proper now I simply wish to relaxation and recuperate till I begin feeling like myself once more, after which I can form of make that call.

“(The foot damage) has been lingering the entire season, so I wish to attempt to get it again to 100 per cent. . . We’ll see, we’ll see what occurs.”

De Grasse, relay teammates Aaron Brown and Jerome Blake, and world decathlon silver medallist Pierce LaPage all withdrew from the Commonwealth Video games, which opened Thursday in Birmingham, England. There are 5 Diamond League meets remaining over the subsequent six weeks.

However a giant two seasons beckon. There’s one other world championships in August of 2023 in Istanbul, after which the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I wish to prepare for subsequent yr, one other worlds, after which I wish to be wholesome for the Olympic Video games, as a result of it might doubtlessly be my final. So I need to have the ability to be nice,” De Grasse mentioned.

“The stereotype is folks get two or three Olympics,” added De Grasse, who has competed in two, profitable six medals. “But when I get a fourth one, I am going to be thankful for that. I used to be speaking to Glenroy (Gilbert, Athletics Canada’s head coach) about I get a fourth Olympics, and I am at my greatest, I am at my prime, nice. If not, and I am simply there to run the relay, it would be a terrific second as effectively.

“You simply take it day-to-day, yr by yr, you do not attempt to assume that far forward.”

De Grasse was in Toronto on Wednesday doing a spherical of media appearances for a sponsor promotion for Cheezmade, meatless hen created from cheese.

Three days earlier, De Grasse salvaged a disappointing worlds with an exciting gold – and Canadian document – within the 4×100 relay. It was Canada’s first world relay victory in 25 years.

The 27-year-old from Markham, Ont., had by no means missed the medal podium in a person occasion at a worlds or Olympics, however in Eugene, Ore., nonetheless feeling the consequences of COVID-19, he missed the ultimate of the 100 and scratched from the 200.

Incomes gold with three teammates was a unique form of pleasure, he mentioned.

“A person (win) is like all of your exhausting work has lastly paid off on this second. You’ll be able to management it just a little bit extra, it is solely you,” De Grasse mentioned. “The relay, you do not know what is going on to occur till it occurs.”

De Grasse mentioned he, Brown, Blake and Brandon Rodney have change into pals. They know one another’s dad and mom, they know one another’s youngsters.

“It felt actually good to win gold with these guys. As a result of I do know them on a private stage, we now have that group chemistry, we have been collectively for thus lengthy. They’re household to me . . . and we hang around collectively.

“It felt form of like my basketball days, taking part in on a sports activities group. We bought to hug one another, we felt the love. I assume in a way, it form of felt a bit completely different, since you bought to truly share the glory with folks with people who you realize.”

The Canadians edged the U.S. for relay gold, however De Grasse mentioned it nearly felt like a house victory. He noticed quite a few Canadian flags at Hayward Discipline, which is about an eight-hour drive south of Vancouver.

“There have been rather a lot (of Canadians) cheering us on, it was loud,” he mentioned.

De Grasse ran a Canadian-record 19.62 seconds to win the Olympic 200 metres final summer time in Tokyo. American Noah Lyles, who gained bronze in Tokyo, captured gold on the world championships in a world-leading 19.31. He beat Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. by greater than 0.4 of a second – a good distance in dash races.

De Grasse wasn’t deflated by Lyles’ quick time, however impressed.

“That is one thing that I really feel like I am undoubtedly able to,” he mentioned. “I want I used to be part of that race, to see the place I’d have been at 100 per cent, to see if I might have lowered my 19.6 efficiency from the Olympics.

“Positively motivates me to say ‘OK, I’ve bought to get again at 100 per cent, get again on my A-game,’ and there is going to be some rivalries, particularly with the Individuals who’re working good as of now.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 28, 2022.