Andre De Grasse has decided to withdraw from the Canadian championship in Ottawa due to tightness in his hamstring. De Grasse, a highly decorated seven-time Olympic medalist and a key member of Canada’s 4×100-meter gold-winning team at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, confirmed that the injury will prevent him from participating in the upcoming event.
Expressing his disappointment in not being able to compete, De Grasse mentioned to CTV News that he experienced some tightness in his hamstring a few weeks back. To avoid exacerbating the issue, he has opted to take a cautious approach and refrain from further strain. Instead, he plans to engage with his supporters by signing autographs, hosting meet-and-greets, taking photos, and ensuring that his fans have the opportunity to interact with him during the weekend.
Despite this setback, the 2021 Olympic 200m champion expressed confidence in his readiness for the upcoming World Athletics Championship scheduled in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. De Grasse reassured, “I have approximately five to six weeks to recover, so I believe I will be fully prepared. The tightness in my hamstring is minor, and I am avoiding any risks that could worsen the situation. The medical team has been providing me with extensive treatment to ensure that I am in optimal condition for the crucial event.”
In other track events, Audrey Leduc from Gatineau, Que., emerged victorious in the senior women’s 100-meter championship, clocking an impressive 11.06 seconds to secure the top spot in the final race at the Canadian track and field championships. The 26-year-old Leduc, who holds the Canadian records in the 100m (10.95) and 200m (22.36), both achieved in 2024, narrowly beat Olympian Sade McCreath (11.09) from Ajax, Ont., and Jacqueline Madogo (11.21) from Ottawa, who clinched the 200m national title in 2023.
In the men’s 100-meter race, Olympian sprinter Duan Asemota from Montreal claimed victory in a thrilling photo finish, crossing the line in 10.12 seconds. Asemota narrowly defeated Aaron Brown (10.13) from Toronto, a member of the gold-winning 4x100m relay team in 2024. Eliezer Adjibi (10.21) from Ottawa secured the third position in the closely contested event.