Andre De Grasse strikes 200m gold at Tokyo 2020

Andre De Grasse finally delivered on the global stage, striking gold in the men’s 200m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Wednesday (4 Aug).

De Grasse, who won Rio 2016 silver in the 200m and 100m bronze behind Usain Bolt, and again bronze here in the 100m, finally took gold in a new Canadian record 19.62.

Also, at the World Championships, De Grasse won 200m silver and 100m bronze in Doha 2019; 100m bronze in Beijing 2015.

“Finally, finally, De Grasse is a global champion,” the commentator described the moment. De Grasse became the first Canadian after Percy Williams, who won the 200m gold in 1928, to win the event.

Donovan Bailey won the 100m title for Canada back at the Atlanta 1996 event.

In arguably the best sprint race of the games so far, Lyles led them off the curve, but just ahead of Bednarek and De Grasse, and held a slight edge even with 50 metres to go. Lyles, however, faded while De Grasse, with high knees, found an extra gear and powered pass Lyles and had Bednarek trailed him across the line.

 USA’s Kenny Bednarek finished strong to take the silver with a PB of 19.68, and Noah Lyles, who grimace under pressure, held on for bronze in 19.74.

Seventeen-year-old Erriyon Knighton, who broke two of Usain Bolt’s records this season, goes sub-20 with 19.93 in fourth, and Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh sneaked inside 20 with 19.98 in fifth.

Jamaica’s Rasheed Dwyer, 20.21 finished 7th and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards 20.39 finished 8th.

Earlier, De Grasse ran 19.73, a then Canadian record, in the semi-finals.