Imagine two rival sprinters from two rival countries competing for the ultimate Olympic glory. What if, in the midst of that intense race, they found time to banter? That’s what happened at the 2016 Rio Games between retiring Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and debutant Canadian runner Andre De Grasse. Bolt triumphed in the 200m with a time of 19.78s, while newcomer Andre De Grasse followed closely at 19.80s. Andre’s recent reflections on his career, particularly his memorable moments with Usain Bolt, have stirred deep emotions within the track and field community.

Reflecting on their interaction, De Grasse remarked in an interview with CBC after the race in 2016, “I don’t think he [Bolt] expected me to do that. I had to push him a little bit, you know, see what he has left in the tank.” Their genuine smiles and mutual respect set a benchmark for sportsmanship, defining sprinting excellence. This dynamic rivalry and friendship left a lasting mark on fans and athletes alike, showcasing a level of competition that elevated the sport to new heights.

Andre De Grasse reportedly misses competing against Usain Bolt

In a recent Instagram post by Olympics and Team Canada, they speculated on how Andre De Grasse might have felt the absence of Usain Bolt during his sprint at the 2020 Tokyo Games. They captioned it, “If we could read De Grasse’s thoughts while running, this would be it.” The video highlighted parallels between De Grasse looking to the side in Tokyo, seemingly searching for Bolt, similar to the viral moment in the 2016 Rio Games. In Rio, De Grasse, who later took up Bolt’s 200m title, came third in the 100m sprint with a time of 9.91 seconds.

However, what made the 200m so special was the camaraderie the two shared. Bolt, while in the lead and crossing the finish line, looked back at De Grasse and smiled. Andre even smiled back, in a show of sportsmanship. It has since become an iconic moment. “We were just having some fun,” De Grasse said after the final. “Me and Usain met back in January, we did a lot of things together.” Since then, Bolt has retired in 2017, making Rio his last Olympics. Meanwhile, De Grasse’s career has only taken off. CBC Sports even said that Bolt has become something of a mentor for De Grasse. The two first met in the 2014 Commonwealth Games when De Grasse was the anchor leg for Canada’s 4x100m relay.

Andre was 19 years old and reportedly too nervous to interact much. However, both were signed with Puma at one point and met often off the track. In fact, Bolt even praised De Grasse’s Rio debut, stating, “For me, it’s a big deal.” Bolt added, “To come third last year [at the world championships] and then this year, to come in an even better field to do the same again, that’s a big deal.” This year, following his mentor, De Grasse is firmly set on competing in his third Olympics. As he goes onto the track, we’re sure Usain Bolt will be once again looking out for him from the sidelines.

Fans reminisce about the days Andre De Grasse and Usain Bolt lit up the track

The track and field community is often mired in rivalry and drama, so coming across a pure and light-hearted moment is rare. This makes friendly rivalries between athletes a delight to watch. Fans found the moment deeply emotional because it symbolized more than just a race; it highlighted the camaraderie and respect between athletes like Andre De Grasse and the absent Usain Bolt. This connection resonated profoundly with viewers, almost bringing many to tears. They commented, “Why is this emotional. I almost cried 😢”.

Another fan was excited and touched by the prospect of De Grasse racing Bolt again. This anticipation for the rematch blended with affection for their mutual respect. He commented on the Instagram video expressing their anticipation of watching the two compete once again. However, they did hope that Bolt would recover from his Achilles tendon injury first, saying, “need to do a race with Bolt again once he’s better!” Next fan also pointed out how Andre De Grasse clearly seemed to be feeling the absence of his rival-cum-friend Usain Bolt, especially since he looked to the side just as he had done in 2016. They wrote speculating De Grasse’s thoughts at the moment, “Bro was happy until he realized that his is not here.”

Despite being competitors on the track, De Grasse and Bolt have shown camaraderie and friendship off the track as well. On the track, they engaged in fierce competition, evident in major events like the Olympics and World Championships, where they competed directly for medals and titles. On this, the fan wrote, “De Grase and Bolt were rivals and friends at the same time”. Another fan also mentioned how they miss watching the two legends go head-to-head. De Grasse and Bolt are both icons in the track and field community, so anyone who has watched them compete surely cherishes the memory, “I love seeing them run together and I miss it.”

Fans hope that somewhere in the future, even if it is in a friendly face-off on the track, Andre De Grasse and Usain Bolt will once again create magic together.