(Langley, BC) Glenroy Gilbert is confident that Andre De Grasse’s performance will be on point for next month’s World Championships despite having been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Posted yesterday at 7:23 p.m.
The Athletics Canada head coach says the winning mentality that allows De Grasse to perform so well in big events will help him.
“Andre isn’t the type of guy who needs a lot of it (motivation),” Gilbert said at the Canadian track and field championships on Thursday. He can compete. We all know that. As long as he’s confident with his preparation for the race in Eugene — he runs fast at that (Hayward Field) track too, it’s always important to remember that — I think he’ll be okay. »
De Grasse withdrew from the Canadian track and field championships on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19.
Historically, De Grasse starts the season quite slowly. A foot injury at the start of the campaign accentuated his problems during the first races of this one. He finished ninth at the Classique Prefontaine in May.
The six-time Olympic medalist, however, was in good shape these days. He won the 100 meters at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo last week with a season best time of 10.05 seconds.
“He’s very jovial and you can see that in the way he analyzes situations,” Gilbert said of his conversations with De Grasse this week. “He was, obviously, a bit concerned, not necessarily that he had caught COVID, but rather that he was picking up the pace and something like that happened.
“But he really feels better, things are falling into place. Many of these athletes who had COVID have recovered and are back to doing the things they love, ”he added, pointing to the dozen athletes who were training at McLeod Athletic Park. “So we cross our fingers that he will live the situation according to the circumstances. »
The World Championships in Athletics will be held July 15-24 in Eugene, Oregon.