Why Andre De Grasse annoyed Usain Bolt in Rio

April 11, 2026 Oliver Obel

Long before Andre De Grasse became one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians, a brief exchange with Usain Bolt in Rio de Janeiro helped introduce him to the world.

The moment came not in a final, but in a 200m semi-final at the 2016 Olympics — and it has remained one of the most memorable images of Bolt’s final Games.

A rising challenger

At the time, Bolt was the dominant force in sprinting, chasing a historic third straight Olympic sweep of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles. De Grasse, meanwhile, was a 21-year-old emerging talent with little to lose.

Rather than easing through the semi-final, the Canadian stayed alongside Bolt deep into the race. As they approached the finish, the two glanced at each other and smiled a rare, almost playful moment at full speed.

Afterward, Bolt suggested he had expected a more conservative approach.

“He was supposed to slow down,” Bolt said. “I said, ‘What are you doing? It’s a semi-final.’ But I think he wanted to push me.”

He later added that De Grasse’s performance signaled intent, noting the Canadian had run fast enough to secure a national record.

From statement to silver

The semi-final set the tone for the final that followed. Bolt went on to win gold in 19.78 seconds, while De Grasse claimed silver in 20.02, finishing ahead of France’s Christophe Lemaitre, according to the original report.

It proved to be their last head-to-head meeting at a major championship before Bolt retired in 2017.

Building a legacy

In the years since, De Grasse has delivered on the promise he showed in Rio.

Now 31, he has collected seven Olympic medals, highlighted by gold in the 200m at the Tokyo Games. He also played a key role in Canada’s 4x100m relay triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

His individual results in Paris were less successful. As reported in the source article, he did not defend his 200m title and missed out on the 100m final despite running a season’s best of 9.98 seconds in the semifinals.

He has remained a central figure in Canada’s relay team, helping secure silver in the 4x100m at the 2025 World Championships behind the United States.

One more Olympic goal

Despite entering the later stages of his career, De Grasse has made clear he is not finished yet.

Speaking to Olympic.com in January 2026, he said: “My plan is to compete in one more Olympics at LA 2028.

“I want to be competitive again in the 100m, one of my favourite events, and try to bring home more medals at my final Games, close to home.”

Looking back on Rio

In a separate interview with the Times of India, De Grasse explained that the famous Rio moment was never intentional.

“It wasn’t planned,” he said, describing how he briefly looked across to judge whether he could conserve energy for the final.

He recalled Bolt reacting mid-race: “‘What are you doing? What are you doing?’”

De Grasse said he was simply managing his effort, not trying to challenge the Jamaican prematurely — even if the moment came to symbolize the arrival of a new contender.

Nearly a decade on, that shared glance and smile still captures a passing moment between sprinting’s dominant figure and one of the athletes who followed.

Sources: SportBible, Olympic.com, Times of India