Andre De Grasse’s Olympic medal run is over for now.
Six-for-six overall hitting the podium at the Summer Games entering Paris, the Canadian was eliminated in the semifinals of the men’s 100 metres on Sunday.
De Grasse, 29, was fifth in his heat and 12th overall in a season-best 9.98 seconds, with only the top two in each heat and the next two best times advancing to the final later Sunday. He was .05 seconds back of the eighth spot.
The native of Markham, Ont., barely qualified for the semis, taking the third and final spot in his opening heat at 10.07 seconds.
De Grasse’s best time this year (10.00 seconds) was just tied for 33rd in the world entering Paris, so he was not considered a strong medal contender in this event.
Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson posted the best time in the semifinals, 9.80 seconds. Fellow Jamaican Oblique Seville was second in 9.81 seconds, while American Noah Lyles was third in 9.83.
De Grasse, one of Canada’s flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, still has the 200 metres and 4×100-metre relay on his schedule at the meet.
De Grasse’s lone Olympic gold came in the 200 metres three years ago in Tokyo.
Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse faced disappointment in the semifinals of the Olympic 100-meter race, failing to advance to the final round. De Grasse, who was considered a strong contender for a medal in the event, finished fifth in his semifinal heat with a time of 10.05 seconds.
The 26-year-old athlete from Markham, Ontario, had high hopes heading into the Tokyo Olympics after winning a bronze medal in the 100-meter race at the 2016 Rio Games and a silver medal in the 200-meter race. De Grasse had also recently set a personal best time of 9.89 seconds in the 100 meters at the Canadian Olympic Trials, further raising expectations for his performance in Tokyo.
However, De Grasse faced tough competition in his semifinal heat, which included sprinters such as American Trayvon Bromell and Italian Marcell Jacobs, who eventually went on to win the gold medal in the event. Despite his best efforts, De Grasse was unable to secure a spot in the final round, ending his Olympic campaign in disappointment.
While De Grasse’s early exit from the 100-meter race was unexpected, he still has the opportunity to compete in the 200 meters and the 4×100-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics. The Canadian sprinter will be looking to bounce back from his setback in the 100 meters and showcase his speed and talent in the remaining events.
De Grasse’s elimination in the semifinals of the Olympic 100-meter race serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of track and field competitions, where even the most talented athletes can face unexpected challenges and setbacks. Despite this disappointment, De Grasse remains a formidable competitor and a source of pride for Canada, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how he performs in his remaining events at the Tokyo Olympics.