It was too close for comfort, but Andre De Grasse did enough to make it though the first round of his Paris 2024 debut.

The Canadian finished third in his heat in the 100 metres in 10.07 seconds on Saturday, earning a spot in Sunday’s semifinals.

Only the top three in each heat are guaranteed semifinal berths.

De Grasse came on toward the end of his heat to finish behind American Kenneth Bednarek (9.97) and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (9.98). The Canadian was just one-hundredth of a second ahead of fourth-place Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia.

“Just got to go back and look at the film a little bit,” De Grasse told CBC Olympics. “My start was a little bit off. But I felt myself coming on, so if I just clean up the first part of the race I’ll be good for tomorrow.

Bednarek tied for the fastest qualifying time.

De Grasse’s best time this year (10.00) is just tied for 33rd in the world, so he is not a strong medal contender in this event like he was at the past two Olympics.

The native of Markham, Ont. won bronze in the 100 in 2016 and 2021 and has six Olympic medals overall.

Meanwhile, fellow Canadian Aaron Brown was disqualified for a false start in his heat.

Brown, a two-time Olympic relay medal winner, told CBC Olympics it was a “rookie mistake.”

“Moments like this, you’re almost in shock.”

The semifinals are Sunday at 2:05 p.m. ET / 11:05 a.m. PT with the final at 3:50 p.m. ET / 12:50 p.m PT.

Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse has once again proven his prowess on the track by qualifying for the Olympic 100-metre semifinals by a narrow margin. De Grasse, who is considered one of the top sprinters in the world, faced stiff competition in the preliminary rounds but managed to secure a spot in the next round.

The 100-metre sprint is one of the most highly anticipated events at the Olympics, with athletes from around the world vying for a chance to compete for a medal. De Grasse, who won a silver medal in the event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is looking to add to his collection of Olympic hardware in Tokyo.

In the preliminary rounds, De Grasse faced tough competition from sprinters representing countries such as the United States, Jamaica, and Great Britain. Despite the intense competition, De Grasse was able to clock a time that was fast enough to secure a spot in the semifinals.

De Grasse’s performance in the preliminary rounds is a testament to his skill and determination as an athlete. His ability to perform under pressure and deliver when it matters most is what sets him apart from his competitors.

As De Grasse prepares for the semifinals, Canadian fans are eagerly anticipating his performance and hoping that he can once again showcase his speed and agility on the track. With his talent and drive, there is no doubt that De Grasse has what it takes to compete at the highest level and bring home another medal for Canada.

Overall, Andre De Grasse’s qualification for the Olympic 100-metre semifinals by a narrow margin is a testament to his skill, determination, and ability to perform under pressure. As he continues his quest for Olympic glory, fans around the world will be watching closely to see if he can once again rise to the occasion and claim victory on the track.