CANADA TAKES BRONZE IN 4X100
American relay team disqualified
This time, the Canadians came out on the right side of the disqualification.
Canada won a bronze medal in the 4x100-metre relay Friday night at the Olympic Games, four years after getting disqualified in the same race for a lane violation.
On that night in London, the Canadians looked to have finished third and were celebrating a bronze medal when they heard the crushing news about the disqualification.
On Friday it was the exact opposite situation. Andre De Grasse and the Canadians were feeling the sting of finishing fourth, just two one-hundredths of a second off the podium, when they found out the Americans, who finished second, were being disqualified for an illegal baton pass.
“We were doing an interview,” said Aaron Brown, who ran the second leg for Canada.
“We were looking at the race on video and talking about getting fourth, with a national record. And then it turned out we got the bronze, so it changed our reaction ... a lot.”
After Akeem Haynes, Brown and Brendon Rodney ran the first three legs for Canada, De Grasse took the final leg and closed ground on the surprising Japanese — who claimed the silver medal — and the Americans. The U.S. team finished in 37.60, the Japanese in 37.62 and the Canadians in a national record time of 37.64.
“It definitely feels good,” triple-medallist De Grasse said. “I’m proud of those guys. People have been saying that USA has been protesting, so I just don’t want to get my hopes up too high.”
The United States filed an appeal of their disqualification Friday night.
Nobody was going to catch Usain Bolt, the anchor of the Jamaican team, who blew everyone away to claim his third gold medal of the Games and ninth overall. Jamaica finished with a time of 37.27.
It’s the third time Bolt has won three gold medals in a single Olympics.
“There you go, I am the greatest,” he said.
The American violation came on the first baton pass between Mike Rodgers and multiple medallist Justin Gatlin. The video is being reviewed by meet officials.
“I’m just happy to be on the good side of the DQ this time,” Brown said. “I saw an article about the ghost of the 2012 relay team and it was in the back of my mind that I wanted to get this medal back for them.”
None of the sprinters who were part of the 2012 relay team were in Rio this week but Canada was also dealt a blow in the relay at last year’s Pan Am Games, getting disqualified for a lane violation by Gavin Smellie that cost a gold medal. De Grasse, Rodney and Brown were all on that team.
The Canadians were not happy with themselves when they thought they were going to be left off the podium on Friday.
“I was a little bit disappointed and surprised that Japan outdid us,” De Grasse said.
“But when we got to upgrade to bronze that cheered our spirits up and we started smiling and saying, ‘Thank God that it happened.’ ”
De Grasse won a bronze medal in the 100-metres earlier this week and followed it up with a silver in the 200 on Thursday.
Now he’ll leave Rio with three medals and a brilliant future.
The 21-year-old from Markham, Ont., isn’t quite at Bolt’s level yet, but he’s got plenty of time to build on what he’s started.
Not since Donovan Bailey and Company claimed a relay gold to go along with his win in the 100-metres in 1996 has Canada had this kind of success in the sprints on the track. De Grasse is the first Canadian since 1932 to win three medals in one Olympics.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” De Grasse said.
“I came into these Olympics saying I want to win three Olympic medals and you know, I’ve done that.
“It’s a dream come true for me, and now for next time around I just want to upgrade those medals.”
De Grasse showed he’s a present and future danger to any sprinters who have eyes on podiums in 2020 and 2024.
Bolt is 29 and doesn’t seem sold on the idea of coming back for another Olympics. Gatlin, who won silver in the 100, is 34.
Come 2020, De Grasse could be the favourite for the 100 and 200 in Tokyo, and that is something no Canadian has ever been able to say before.