Star sprinter Andre De Grasse focused on his health this offseason.
The Markham, Ont., native was set back by a foot injury and a second COVID-19 infection in 2022. The latter occurred less than a month before the start of the World Championships. athletics, where he was unable to qualify for the 100m final. He then retired from the 200m, before leading Canada to gold in the 4x100m relay.
With the “difficult” 2022 season now behind him, the reigning Olympic 200m champion says his goal this season is to stay healthy.
“I know I can do great things when I’m healthy,” De Grasse told The Canadian Press. It’s still early in the season, so I wanted to stay here, take it one step at a time and be healthy. And when I’m fully healthy, then, of course, I’ll start setting my goals for the coming season.
“I’m always confident in my talent… If I’m healthy, then I’m super confident. Obviously, when I’m weak, then it becomes difficult to put in the full effort,” he added.
De Grasse, 28, has yet to compete in 2023. He last competed on September 12, clocking 10.37 seconds in the 100m in Bellinzona, in Swiss.
Since that time, De Grasse moved from Jacksonville to Orlando, Florida, and began training with a new instructor, John Coghlan. With his wife Nia Ali and their three children, they moved into their new residence in January, after spending some time in an Airbnb – accompanied by their moving boxes.
“It’s been a bit of a mess, but that’s life, I guess,” said De Grasse. This is a good thing.
“It’s good to be uncomfortable for a while, then eventually you find your routine, your landmarks, and you adapt to your new host city. That’s what we’re trying to do right now,” added the Canadian.
De Grasse hopes to return to competition in April, but is aware that time is running out.
“Yeah, I’m nervous… I haven’t raced in a while and the last few times I’ve done it haven’t gone well,” he admitted. But as we often say in athletics, you have to turn the page and focus on the next event. You forget the last one, because anything can happen. »
Although the World Championships are scheduled to take place August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary, and the Paris Olympics are next summer, the six-time Olympic medal-holder is trying not to project himself too far ahead. Before.
“I don’t like to plan too far in advance. I know time flies and things change quickly. Of course, I have to have a plan, and it’s good to set goals. But I just want to… focus on one day at a time, one hour at a time, and see how I can improve.
“But when the time comes, and it’s the World Championships or the Olympics, then hopefully I’ll be ready and at my peak. You are ready, you are healthy, you are 100% and you want to go, ”he concluded.