TORONTO – It was quite an Olympic debut for Canadian track star Andre De Grasse.
He won three medals at the Rio Games last summer and showed he belonged on the same stage as Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and the world’s best sprinters.
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De Grasse was rewarded for his accomplishments today by being named the winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year.
In just his second true season in the sport, the 21-year-old from Markham, Ont., won Olympic silver in the 200 metres and bronze in both the 100 and four-by-100-metre relay.
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De Grasse earned 43 votes — 66 per cent overall — in the annual survey of editors and broadcasters from across the country.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was well back in second place and high jumper Derek Drouin was third. Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price won the award last year.