Andre De Grasse is ready for his “playoffs”.
The star sprinter will compete in the 200m and 4x100m relay events at the World Championships in Athletics, which begins Saturday in Budapest and ends August 27.
De Grasse, of Markham, Ont., is having a tough campaign after being plagued by injuries in 2022.
His name no longer even comes up in conversations about the fastest men in the world, while it is Americans Fred Kerley, world champion in the 100 meters, and Noah Lyles, two-time world champion in the 200 meters, who find themselves in the spotlight.
De Grasse, a six-time Olympic medalist and reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 200 metres, understands how things work. But that doesn’t impress him.
“It’s not easy when you’re injured or you don’t start the season as you hoped,” De Grasse said. I’m a guy who likes team sports like basketball or soccer. It’s only the regular season for me.
“When the playoffs start – that’s the Worlds – that’s when you see what everyone’s got in their stomachs. That’s what I focus on. Yes, there is the Diamond League and other competitions, but it is the regular season. The Worlds, the Olympics, these are the series. This is where the real stars shine. »
If De Grasse does not follow the conversations about the favorites before the competitions in Budapest, his entourage keeps him informed.
“Apparently I’m the underdog,” he said. When I started, I was up against Usain Bolt. I was the underdog. Now it’s the Americans, the favorites, and I’m the underdog.
“It doesn’t really bother me because I know what I’ve achieved and what I’m capable of. All I want to do is be ready to give it my all. »
De Grasse was unable to qualify for the 100 meters at the Worlds. He was even excluded from the final at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Two days later, in July, he clocked his best time of the season over 200 meters, clearing the distance in 20.01 seconds.
“In my mind, it was a step in the right direction, but it wasn’t the weather I was hoping for either,” De Grasse said. I have to fine-tune some things and figure out how to improve. »
De Grasse has a reputation for excelling when he finds himself on the biggest stages of his sport. After all, his best 100 and 200 meter times ever came in the finals of the Tokyo Olympics. The 28-year-old Ontarian is therefore ready for the World Championships.
“I want to raise my level,” he said, praising his preparation. I am a guy who is not afraid to try everything for everything. It’s the biggest stage in our sport and we have to try everything to win, right?
“I have that competitive mindset associated with other sports or being in a familiar position. As I always say, you learn more from defeat than from victory.
“It helps me prepare for those big moments. »
Jean-Simon Desgagnés: 3000m steeplechase (this Saturday 5:35 a.m. for the qualifying heat)
Simone Plourde: 1500m (this Saturday 7:37 a.m. for the qualifying heat)
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot: 1500m (this Saturday 1:02 p.m. for the qualifying heat)
Micha Powell: 4 X 400m relay (Saturday August 26 1:55 p.m. for qualifying heat)
Aiyana Stiverne: 4 X 400m relay (Saturday, August 26, 1:55 p.m. for qualifying heat)