De Grasse out of world championships with injury
Star Canadian sprinter suffers hamstring strain during practice
Andre De Grasse’s 2017 is done, as an injury has forced Canada’s super sprinter to watch the remainder of the track season from the sidelines.
De Grasse, who suffered a hamstring strain during practice on Monday, was primed to challenge for multiple medals at the world track and field championships later this week in London.
After receiving a second opinion on his hamstring Wednesday and ultimately pulling out of the event — which will be rival Usain Bolt’s final major meet — the 22-yearold De Grasse expressed his disappointment.
“The entire year this 100m race in London was my focus,” the Markham, Ont., native said in a statement confirming his withdrawal. “I am really in the best shape of my life and was looking forward to competing against the best in the world.
“To not have this opportunity is unimaginable to me, but it is the reality I am faced with. I am sad to miss this chance, but I am young and will be back and better than ever in the near future.”
De Grasse had shown well in previous 2017 meets and, in the leadup to London, had been touted as a medal threat in the 100m and 200m events. He was scheduled to anchor Canada’s 4x100-metre relay team, too.
“Injuries are a part of the sport, and the timing of this one is especially unfortunate,” said De Grasse, who picked up three medals at last summer’s Rio Olympics.
“While I’m in the best shape of my life and extremely disappointed that I will not have the chance to compete for my country in London, I can’t forget or be ungrateful for the successes that I’ve been blessed with up to this point in my career.”
Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert issued a statement: “I really feel for Andre, I know he really wanted to make a mark here at the world championships. Injuries are part of the sport, obviously, the timing is terrible.
“As a team the focus doesn’t change, we need to be ready to compete starting Friday. We’ve
To not have this opportunity is unimaginable to me, but it is the reality I am faced with. ANDRE DE GRASSE
been talking about the depth of the program, now is a chance for some of our other stars to shine, and have some of our up-and-coming athletes step up.”
Bolt, who has declared the London worlds to be his last major event before retirement, is the world record holder and has won six of seven Olympic or world 100m events since 2008 (the only setback: A false-start disqualification in 2011).