Seven-time Olympic medalist, this is how the world of track and field knows Andre De Grasse. Once considered Usain Bolt’s greatest rival, the Canadian sprint star boasts two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes, making him one of the most decorated athletes in Canada’s history. Record after record, he seemed unstoppable. But in a shocking twist, the glory is starting to fade. Over the past few months, De Grasse has faced defeat after defeat, often at the hands of rising young talents. The latest blow came on September 7 at the Continental Tour Gold event in Beijing, where a 23-year-old sensation outpaced the 29-year-old.

At the Continental Tour in Beijing, just ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Andre De Grasse tested his form, but received a sobering reality check. In the 100m, he finished third with a time of 10.16s, behind Oman’s Ali Al Balushi (10.09s) and Brandon Hicklin (10.12s). The result highlighted the struggles De Grasse has faced during a challenging season. Andre De Grasse began 2025 at the Astana Indoor Meeting, finishing fifth in the 60m. He moved outdoors to the Florida Relays, winning the 200m and helping Canada take gold in the 4x100m relay.

At the Grand Slam Miami, he ran 10.05 in the 100m (8th) and 20.23 in the 200m (4th). Mid-season, he withdrew from the Canadian Championships due to hamstring tightness but returned at the Beijing Continental Tour. Ahead of the Beijing tour, he had a conversation with the media, where the athlete was unsure about his performance, “I try not to think about it too much. I’ve done so much in my career already, so it’s not like a pressure situation … it is what it is. Just go out there and give it your best shot. Obviously, I wish I had more time to prepare, but I feel like … I’m in a good spot.”

Despite his setbacks, he has been selected for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo to compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Well, Ali Al Balushi is not the only young athlete who defeated the veteran this season.

Andre De Grasse gets setback after setback from young athletes

Back in May, at the NCAA Division I West Regional Championships, 20-year-old Jordan Anthony clocked a blistering 9.75 seconds in the 100m, his speed matched Andre De Grasse’s second-fastest all-conditions collegiate time. Even though he was unable to break the record, his performance highlighted the emergence of a new generation of sprinters challenging established benchmarks. Later that day, Anthony won the 200m in 19.93 seconds. Well, Jordan never really raced Andre De Grasse, but getting close to his record at such an age might have really given him a scare.

That’s not all, at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, 24-year-old American Robert Gregory defeated De Grasse in the 200m with a time of 20.24 seconds, edging out the Canadian’s 20.29 seconds. That defeat certainly marked a significant moment, as De Grasse had previously outperformed Gregory at the Florida Relays. In addition to that, Gregory achieved this feat despite having a -2.0 m/s headwind. This defeat certainly was hard for De Grasse.

With his sights set on Tokyo, he is aiming to perform better, but with underlying injuries and back-to-back setbacks, the road ahead could be tough for him. Regardless, what are your thoughts on him?