Article author:
Canadian Press
Lori Ewing
TORONTO — One month before the World Athletics Championships, Canada The fastest man was caught walking down the stairs at his home in Jacksonville, Florida.
Andre De Grasse has recently returned to full practice after the second COVID-19 match finally interrupted the season he was looking up at.
He said he was suffering from symptoms such as shortness of breath. The timing was as frustrating as he was finding his figure after a leg injury early in the season.
"I was sleeping upstairs, so I had to climb the stairs and felt out of breath," DeGrasse said. "I feel that way for the first few days. Even when I got back to training, I just tried to run and get my lungs back, and it certainly hurt a little. I panicked a little."
A 27-year-old woman from Markham, Ontario slowed down early in the season due to an injury that affected her right big toe and arch. The World Championships are early in the season (June 15-24, Eugene, Oregon), so he first measures where he is, knowing he hasn't recorded enough 100% training yet. I raced to do it. He finished 9th at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in late May.
In less than three weeks he broke a strong field and won the Oslo Diamond League at the season's highest 10.05. Then he caught COVID and was forced to withdraw from the Canadian Championships.
Douglas spent three days in bed and was isolated from his partner Nia Ali, who had a trial in the United States at the World Championships.
"I was pretty depressed," he said. "And when I returned to the first week of training, I wasn't feeling well. I had difficulty breathing in my lungs. It took me a lot of time to get it back. I had a cough and fatigue."
De Grasse plans to run 100, 200, and 4x100 meter relays, as it did at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. He won medals in all six and became Canada's most decorated Summer Olympics boy. He also competed in all three at the 2019 World Championships.
However, since there are 3 rounds in 100 and 200 respectively, the schedule will be a tight 10 days. He will start on July 15th with the first round of 100. ..
"I'm trying to regain my strength for the 200," he said in a telephone interview on Monday. "So now I want to do a double, but (200) is a game time decision."
Last month, there were several US trials on the same Hayward Field track hosting the world. Has created a wonderful time. Fred Kerley scored 100 in 9.77 seconds. In the final, all runners sank under the 10-second barrier.
Athletics Canada head coach Glenroy Gilbert believes DeGrasse's ability to run at the highest stakes will help him in Eugene.
"Andre is not the kind of person who needs a lot," Gilbert said. "He can compete. We know that, and as long as he's confident in the work he's done to get to Eugene, and he's fast on that (Hayward Field) track. I'm running, but it's important to always remember that. I think he'll be a good person. "
Douglas is at least mentally at the major world championships. He said he felt ready.
"I have the experience I can use for my own benefit, I'm used to these moments of pressure," he said.
De Grasse and Ali will race together in the third World Championship. This is an amazing achievement for Ali, the mother of three. His son Titus is one of the three world 100-meter hurdles champions from the United States. She and Douglas have a daughter, Yuri, and a son, Kenzo, who were born in May 2021.
"I'm definitely happy because she's struggling to get her back this year," Degras said. "I watched (US trial) on TV. It's great to see her come back."
This couple has Eugene with all three children, I have two mothers to take care of three people.
Meanwhile, De Grasse said his habits are improving every day.
"I have 1% every day for 2 weeks, 1 day at a time. I'm rejuvenated. Practice is going well."
Canadian This report by the press was first published on July 5, 2022. Sign up to receive daily top stories from
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