Markham celebrates Andre De Grasse’s historic golden Olympic moment

MARKHAM, ON – August 5, 2021 – On August 4, Markham hometown athlete Andre De Grasse made Olympic history in a year like no other. The world champion has won back-to-back medals in the men's 100m and 200m competitions at two consecutive summer Olympic Games. This is also the first time since Amsterdam 1928 that Team Canada has won gold in the 200m sprint and since Atlanta 1996 for a gold medal in sprinting.

To celebrate this golden historic moment at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the City of Markham proclaimed August 4, 2021 as “Andre De Grasse Day” and will be lighting the Markham gateway sign at Steeles Avenue and Markham Road gold tonight.

The public is invited to show their Olympic pride and share messages of congratulations for Andre De Grasse online at markham.ca/AndreDeGrasse until August 30.

"On behalf of Members of Council and the entire community, we send our congratulations to Andre for these outstanding accomplishments and thank him for representing Markham and Canada with pride,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Andre has made Canadian history by winning back-to-back medals in consecutive Olympics for the 100m and 200m competitions. He has followed in the footsteps of Harry Jerome who won Bronze in the 100m competition at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. We wish Andre and his teammates well as they pursue a medal in the Men’s 4x100m competition later this week."

Andre De Grasse has won a medal in every Olympic race he has ever competed in, and currently has five Olympic medals. In addition to the two medals he has won at Tokyo 2020, he made history at his Olympics debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by becoming the only Canadian to win medals in all three sprint events at a single games.

To celebrate his accomplishments at Rio 2016, the City of Markham dedicated Andre De Grasse Street to the sprinter in 2018. He is also featured at the Markham Pan Am Centre as part of a series of 12 paintings of top local athletes, created in collaboration with students at Bill Crothers Secondary School – Markham’s athletic-based high school.

Andre De Grasse’s next race is the 4x100 relay final on Friday, August 6 at 9:50 AM local time. Tune in and cheer on our local athlete one more time as he goes for gold!

As final competitions take place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the City of Markham continues to wish all athletes connected to Markham the best of luck as they compete on the world stage!

Photos:

Andre De Grasse right after the 100 metre race and with his gold medal.

Related links:

• Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 
• Team Canada
• Remembering Tokyo 1964: Online Special Presentation 

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

For COVID-19 announcements from the City of Markham: 
Visit markham.ca/covid19 or listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with more than 351,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 headquartered companies and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy.
 

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