Just over a year ago, Usain Bolt and Andre De Grasse formed one of the warmest examples of bromance we’ve ever seen in the sports world at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
De Grasse captured a silver medal for Canada in the 200-metre race, finishing 0.24 seconds behind the Jamaican star. He then grabbed a bronze in the 100-metre, with Bolt finishing ahead of him in both races.
Fast forward to a year later and the two sprinters were supposed to compete against each other at the 2017 World Athletics Championships that commences on Friday in London, England, but De Grasse will miss the remainder of the 2017 season with a strained hamstring.
With retirement kicking in following the conclusion of the championships, Bolt, a nine-time gold medalist, is running in his final 100-metre sprint in Saturday’s competition. He was asked by a reporter who will be next in line to rule the sprinting world.
“I’m not going down that road. The last guy I said was going to be great disrespected me. So I’m not going to say who’s going to be great. I’m just going to leave it to whoever shows up and is willing to fill my shoes will fill my shoes.”
Bolt didn’t name drop the Markham, Ontario native, but it’s pretty clear he’s referencing De Grasse.
Back in June, De Grasse didn’t back down in his own beliefs that he could upset Bolt.
“I’m trying to win this year. I feel like I have a great chance and that’s what I want to do. I feel like I have a great chance in both events – 100 or 200 meters this year. If I can execute my race and I’m in top shape I feel like I can do that.” De Grasse declared in an interview with The Associated Press.
Those comments aren’t malicious and more so stated the confidence De Grasse has in his abilities, and rightfully so -- he’s arguably one of the fastest athletes on the planet and has legitimate reason to have faith in himself.
What probably ticked Bolt off – perhaps compounded with De Grasse’s comments above – was when Stuart McMillian, De Grasse’s coach, claimed that Bolt tried “booting” him from a 100-metre race in Monaco from last month, to which Bolt and De Grasse denied.
But shouldn’t the runner known as “the fastest man in the world” be enthused about that the next wave of sprinters that are trying to make their mark on the sport? Apparently not.
“I’ve learned not to call names, you know what I mean, because over the years I’ve noticed that some youngsters, really no matter how much you give them props, I’ve learned that they don’t show the respect to a lot of the athletes that have really helped them to pave the way throughout the years,” Bolt said. “So, for me, I stopped saying who’s going to be the next Usain or who’s going to shine, per NBC’s Nick Zaccardi, prior to McMillian’s comments.
Bolt seemed puzzled when asked to break down his relationship with the Canadian track star.
“I don’t know where his career’s going to go in the future … but in the past he’s won a bronze medal, he won a silver medal, shows he has talent. We’ll see what happens in the future. It’s all about consistency.”
Bolt is a legend in himself, and it’s hard to argue that he isn’t the greatest of all-time, but he’s sounding a little petulant here, and good for De Grasse believing in himself. He is a competitive athlete, after all, and he isn’t going to just back down from a challenge, no matter who he’s facing.
We just hope these two are able to work out their differences. It’s a shame that De Grasse will miss the chance to race against Bolt for the final time, barring any unexpected returns.
(h/t to Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports)
