Andre De Grasse: Canada’s Most Decorated Olympic Sprinter & Bestselling Author
Andre attributes his immense success to the unwavering support of his coaches, family, and medical team, emphasizing, “Each one helped get me to where I am today and played a role in my success.” His story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of perseverance and dedication.
Andre De Grasse is a living legend in Canadian track and field, renowned as Canada’s most celebrated track star and a seven-time Olympic medalist. His remarkable career is defined by speed, resilience, and a consistent ability to perform on the world’s biggest stages.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, De Grasse soared to victory, capturing Olympic Gold in the 200m with a Canadian record-breaking time of 19.62 seconds, and adding a bronze medal in the 100m (personal best 9.89 seconds), as well as a silver in the 4x100m relay. His medal haul in Tokyo made him the first Canadian sprinter to win three medals in a single Olympics.
De Grasse continued his Olympic legacy at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he served as a co-Opening Ceremony flag bearer and cemented his status as Canada’s most decorated Olympian, with a total of seven Olympic medals. Despite battling a hamstring injury, he anchored the Canadian men’s 4x100m relay team to a dramatic Olympic Gold medal with a time of 37.50 seconds.
His journey to athletic stardom is as inspiring as his victories. Once a promising basketball player in Toronto, Andre’s life trajectory changed in a mere 10.9 seconds during his first 100m race at a high school track meet. Spotted by Olympic medalist Tony Sharpe, Andre’s raw talent quickly earned him a full scholarship to college in Kansas, and later, to the prestigious University of Southern California (USC) in 2014. At USC, he quickly rose to prominence, securing two World Championship bronze medals and two NCAA titles, including a historic 100m and 200m double victory.
Turning professional in late 2015, De Grasse made an immediate impact at his first Olympic Games in Rio 2016. He earned bronze in the 100m, silver in the 200m (setting a Canadian record of 19.80 in the semi-finals while challenging Usain Bolt), and another bronze anchoring the men’s 4x100m relay team in a national record time of 37.64 seconds.
Beyond the Olympics, Andre boasts an impressive five World Championship medals, including gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. He also swept the 100m and 200m events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, breaking the national record in the 200m.
Off the track, Andre is the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller, Ignite: Unlock The Hidden Potential Within, sharing his insights on determination, resilience, and achieving peak performance. He is also a proud father of three with partner Nia Ali, a World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist in hurdles. De Grasse is deeply committed to empowering youth through the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation and supports aspiring student-athletes through the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program. His contributions were recognized in 2023 when he was named to the Order of Ontario.
Note: Andre is best with panels, meet & greet, and in-conversation events. He can discuss his inspiring personal journey, insights on performance, success mindset, and resilience.
Similar Speakers 123