Andre De Grasse Embraces Mumbai and Reflects on Sprinting Legacy
Andre De Grasse wears many hats with effortless grace. The Canadian athlete serves as the clutch final leg in relay races, securing unlikely gold medals for his team. He nurtures dreams of acting, dedicates himself to philanthropy, and embraces hands-on fatherhood. This seven-time Olympic medalist added another role on Thursday. He stepped into the position of Guest Sports Editor at The Times of India's Mumbai office.
De Grasse arrived in his capacity as the international event ambassador for the 2026 Tata Mumbai Marathon. He landed from Florida in the early morning hours but showed no signs of jet lag. The 31-year-old sprinter admitted he had not managed to sleep. Yet, he fielded questions with sharp clarity and enthusiasm.
First Impressions of India and Marathon Ambitions
Is this your first visit to India?
"First time in India, first time in Mumbai," De Grasse confirmed. "From seeing the city for the first five or six hours, it is beautiful. I have a nice view from my room, and I see Marine Drive. Yeah, so it is a really nice view. It kind of reminds me a little bit of home, a little bit of Toronto. We have the tall buildings and the CN Tower, and we have the lake and everything. But your city is much, much bigger."
You are here as an ambassador of the Tata Mumbai Marathon. Have you ever tried distance running?
"The most I ever ran was one mile," he laughed. "Some of my family members participated in a 5k or a 10k, but not anything like a marathon. A marathon is extremely hard. 43 kms, 26 miles, almost. It is definitely something I watched, but I never participated. But maybe one day, we will see."
From Basketball to Olympic Podiums: An Accidental Runner?
De Grasse did not start his athletic journey on the track. He played basketball in school. His foray into sprinting happened almost by chance during his final year of high school.
"Track was not my first sport," he recalled. "When I got into the sport, I was just having fun. I did not think, 'Oh, I am going to be an Olympian one day,' or be a professional. I just had fun."
The discovery came on a school bus. "I bumped into a friend, and we were joking around about who was fast and who was not fast. I went out to the track meet, and I ended up racing him and beating him. That was when one of the Olympians from Team Canada, Tony Sharp, discovered me. He said, 'Hey, kid Andre, you are pretty fast. You should try this sport.' At that time, I was playing basketball."
Conquering Giants: The Sweet Taste of Tokyo Gold
De Grasse's career unfolded during the era of American and Jamaican dominance in sprinting. Breaking through that barrier made his 200m gold at the Tokyo Olympics particularly sweet.
"Yeah, it felt amazing," he said. "It was a tough schedule because it was the pandemic. We tried to find ways to train. Everything was shut down in the world. So we trained four or five hours on the track and in the weight room. You hoped it did not go to waste."
Despite the Olympic glory, his favorite victory remains closer to home. "I think my favourite moment was when I got to race at home in Toronto. We had the Pan American Games in 2015. I won in front of my family, my friends, and my home crowd. It was the first time I ever won something big. I won the gold in Tokyo, but because we were still in a pandemic, I did not get a chance to race in front of my family and my friends."
Iconic Moments and Racing Legends
One race he often replays in his mind is the 4x100m relay victory in Paris with his longtime teammates. "That was a special moment because we got to do it together. We've known each other since we were young, like 16, 17 years old. Three of us ran with each other for the last 10 years. We always talked about, 'Oh, we need to win one before we all retire.' That was a cool moment between myself, Aaron Brown, and Brendon Rodney."
Then there is that iconic photograph from the Rio 2016 semifinals. It shows a grinning Usain Bolt looking back at De Grasse as they cross the finish line.
"(Laughs) It wasn't planned," De Grasse insisted. "Everyone always asked me, 'Was it planned?' My coach said, 'We're in the semifinals. We need to finish top two to make the finals. Try to go out hard because you have Usain in your heat, but save enough energy for the final.' I remember, when I got to 160, 170 metres, you look around to see if you can shut it down. I looked to the side and saw Usain doing the same thing. That just happened. We just smiled at each other."
Facing a legend like Bolt never made him feel defeated before the race. "I don't think any athlete feels that way. I think we all feel like we can win. Even though it seems far out of reach sometimes. You know, when you see a guy like Usain run the world record, you have to show up on that day. It doesn't mean because you ran fast last week that you can run fast again. You have to be consistent every single time."
Evolving Perspectives and Chasing More Glory
His definition of a perfect race has changed over the years. "When I was younger, I always used to think there is a perfect race. But now, as I've been more in the sport, I'm like, there is no perfect race. You can always be better. I remember watching back my 100 metres at Tokyo. I ran a personal best of 9.89. I was watching it back with my coach and he said, 'Oh, you did so bad from 10 to 30m. If you just did what you did in the first round, it would be a different race.' You always go back and say you could be better. That's the beauty of the sport."
De Grasse has stood on the podium in every Olympic and World Championship final from 2015 to 2022. "I've been blessed to have a good team and a good support system. It helps me accomplish those goals because it's not easy. I just try to work hard. It's not rocket science. You try to do all the hard work and hope at the end of the day you did enough for that outcome."
Looking Ahead to LA 2028 and Beyond
At 31, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are just over two years away. He will compete against younger stars like Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson.
"LA 2028 will feel close to home for me. It's close to Canada. I went to school in Los Angeles right down the street from where the main stadium will be. That will feel like home games. I know a lot of people there. I know I'm an older athlete now compared to younger guys. But I want to try to do one more Olympics and try to do the best of my abilities."
Advances in sports science help him maintain his career. "That has played a big role, especially with recovery. As I've got older, you get more sore and feel fatigued. A lot of these new machines help me continue training. They make sure I stay on track and am able to train the next day. Now I can't say, 'Coach, I don't feel I can go today. My body hurts.'"
Personal Touches: From Spikes to Cricket
He ran his first track meet in borrowed spikes and basketball shorts. "Yeah, I still have them somewhere in my parents' house. I don't know how much they'd go for. Sometimes I auction off the spikes I wear now for my foundation. They might go for about US$500."
With parents from Trinidad and Barbados, cricket naturally piqued his interest. "Yeah. When I visited my dad in Barbados as a kid, maybe 9 or 10, we played a lot of cricket. I haven't played since, but I love it. I like to bat and hit sixes."
He also drew a parallel between coaching and parenting. "Parenting is tough. My kids are young, so you need a lot of patience. They cry and yell a lot. I've gotten better over the years. At first, I thought it would be a tough challenge. Now I balance it better and try to figure out what they like and what keeps them from crying."
Andre De Grasse continues to sprint forward, embracing every role with the same determination he shows on the track.
