Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse has learned a lot since his first race.
The six-time Olympic medallist and Canada's fastest man is reflecting on everything he's been through and the obstacles he's had to face in his new book Ignite, including what he learned from competing against retired athlete Usain Bolt.
While it's tough to narrow it down to the biggest life lesson he's learned, De Grasse tells Narcity he's figured out how to deal with the pressure that comes with being a professional athlete and what to expect when it comes to competitions.
"Obviously it's hard to tell at every Olympics what to expect, but you try to go in with a game plan," the Scarborough-born and Markham-raised athlete said.
"You always try to stick to that game plan. But you know, obviously, you have to learn how to adjust and [...] fight through adversity at times when things might not go your way."
De Grasse adds that with every competition and opportunity, even if the outcome is not what he had hoped for, he tries to learn from it and use it to his advantage in that way.
In his book Ignite, the Olympic athlete also talks about what it was like growing up watching Usain Bolt race and then getting to compete against the fastest runner in the world twice in his career.
When he first lined up beside Bolt at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, De Grasse shared in his book how nervous he was and Bolt was "a giant among [them]."
De Grasse got to compete against Bolt one more time at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and he looks back at that time fondly.
He's also taken away an important lesson that came with watching Bolt race, which is learning how to compete and have fun.
"I train five, six days a week. I put in the work, [and] the effort. Just knowing at the end of the day that you've done everything possible to get you to that moment and now you just have to go out there and just have fun and enjoy it," he said.
"One of the things I kind of took from him [Bolt] when I saw him compete over the years was just how relaxed and calm he was. So I try to kind of bring that same type of energy when I compete."
Bolt has retired from competing, and De Grasse now has his sights set on other competitors as he prepares for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
"There's so many great American [athletes]. From Noah [Lyles], Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell [...] then you have the 100-metre champion from Italy: Marcell Jacobs. Those are my main competitors," he told Narcity.
"Any one of us can take the title. You have to kind of just bring your A-game that day and hope that you execute the greatest game plan."
The 2024 Summer Olympics open on July 26.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Olympian Andre De Grasse Shares His Biggest Life Lesson & What He Learned From Usain Bolt
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