De Grasse has more left in the tank

Hurdler Holder jumps into semifinals

Andre De Grasse has made it emphatically clear he wants to be the fastest man in the world, and in Brazil he’s showing every sign of being on the right track.

But we’ll get an indication of whether he’s more prolific in the 200 metres or 100. With a bronze in the bank, De Grasse took care of step one on Tuesday by advancing through the heats, quick and comfortable.

On Wednesday it’s the semifinal and if all goes well, a shot at a second medal — and possible upgrade in colour in Thursday’s final. While it would be difficult to defeat American Justin Gatlin and Jamaica’s Usain Bolt still seems untouchable, there’s a factor worth remembering.

De Grasse maintains he is better in the 200 and it’s a race he prefers to the 100.

It’s clear the young Canadian is enjoying every minute of living in Bolt’s shadow, but growing in confidence with each race he runs. His 200 heat on Tuesday was impressive, but much like Bolt shows repeatedly, there was much more in the tank.

HURDLE CLEARED

Nikkita Holder survived her 100-metre hurdle heat Tuesday in spite of a bumpy ride to cross the line in 12.92 seconds.

“I need to clean a few things up, not hit a hurdle and get ready for the next race,” the native of Pickering, Ont., said.

“The body feels awesome. The mind is right.”

Both the body and the mind have felt anything but right given the stress of the last four years. There was a marriage (to 2012 Canadian Olympian Justyn Warner), a divorce (from Warner), the birth of a baby boy, the loss of her biological father to a heart attack, and the death of Canadian teammate Daundre Barnaby in a 2015 national team training camp.

“It’s pretty much been hell,” Holder, 29, said. “But I’m really surprised that I was able to overcome everything that I’ve been able to overcome and still make it to the Olympic team.”

Holder advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal along with Toronto’s Phylicia George.