Canada’s star sprinter Andre De Grasse captured silver in the men’s 200-metre after challenging Jamaican Usain Bolt.
The Markham, Ont., native won silver with a time of 20.02 seconds, while Bolt captured gold by crossing the finish line with a time of 19.78 seconds. Christophe Lemaitre of France took bronze with a time of 20.12 seconds.
De Grasse’s podium finish gives Canada its fourth medal of the day and 18th of the Rio Olympics. The 21-year-old also won bronze on Sunday in the men’s 100-metre.
“I’m really happy with two medals, but my race today could have been better. I couldn’t really tell what happened,” De Grasse said. “I came off the bend and tried to do something, tried to go, but maybe I used up too much energy in the semi-final yesterday.
READ MORE: Andre De Grasse sets Canadian record en route to advancing to the 200m finals at Summer Games
“I didn’t think I had, but maybe I did. There was nothing there. I’m really happy with two medals under my belt. But yesterday I ran relaxed. My race today could have been better,” the Canadian said.
As Team Canada points out, with De Grasse’s silver medal, the sprinter is the first Canadian male to win medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre at the same Olympics since 1928.
Runner Percy Williams medalled in both events at the Amsterdam Games.
As for Bolt, the Jamaican recorded his eighth gold medal in what is probably his last individual race of his career.
“I don’t need to prove anything else. What else can I do to prove to the world I am the greatest?” the track star said. “I am trying to be one of the greatest. Be among (Muhammad) Ali and Pele. I hope after these Games I will be in that bracket.”
On the race itself, Bolt said he had to kick it up a notch.
“I ran hard around the turn. On the straight, my body didn’t respond,” Bolt said of the race. “I’m getting old.”
De Grasse has another shot for a medal on Friday in the men’s 4×100 relay.
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