It’s possible that Andre De Grasse is a very affluent young guy, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. This year, the 21-year-old from Markham, Ontario, made the leap to the professional ranks and inked a staggering US$11.25-million contract with Puma in December.
The contract was the most lucrative ever for a track and field athlete’s first professional contract out of college. De Grasse’s multiyear contract with Puma could be valued at as much as US$30 million with bonuses.
Despite his “whirlwind” ascent to the top of the international sprinting ranks, Canada’s rising sprint sensation is keeping a clear head and planning for the future. It would only take one major accident – cross fingers — for him to be out of work.
While “you never know what’s going to happen with injuries and you don’t get as much time” in track, “I’m very young,” De Grasse added.
“As your lifespan is estimated to be no more than ten years, I need to make the most of my time. You can’t just go out and spend as much as you want on tickets like you can in the NBA, MLB, or NHL.”
His agent, Paul Doyle, directs him to save some of his money or invest it wisely. He lives off an allowance and plans his spending accordingly.
“I’ve seen too many athletes through the years make a lot of money, and spend more money than they ever make,” said Doyle, who represents Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton and her American husband Ashton Eaton, the decathlon world record holder.
Early Years of Andre De Grasse
Andre De Grasse first entered this world in the Canadian city of Scarborough, in the province of Ontario. His mother Beverley was a high school sprinter in Trinidad and Tobago before the family emigrated to Canada.
His paternal grandfather, Alexander Waithe, moved his family from Barbados to Canada when he was a child. Born in Markham, Ontario, he settled in Fonthill, near the Niagara Peninsula.
A high school basketball player, the sprinter once competed against Vaughan Secondary School’s Andrew Wiggins, a future NBA star. For his first high school track event, De Grasse borrowed spikes and ran in basketball shorts for the York Region Championships.
He couldn’t even use the starting blocks, so he had to begin from a standing position. The 100-meter dash was his best event, as he finished second overall despite his obvious inexperience.
His future coach, Tony Sharpe, took notice of his remarkable performance. This made up for the fact that he didn’t have any starting blocks or other necessary racing equipment. After some time, Grasse received an invitation to enroll in Pickering’s Speed Academy.
The world’s second-fastest man, Andre de Grasse, and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt.
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Respect and Recognition in the Work of Andre De Grasse
The athlete, age 27, and his girlfriend, age 20, have a 2-year-old daughter and a 2-month-old infant. Hurdler Nia Ali is an American. Andre is a devout Catholic Christian, as evidenced by prayer and the word “Hope” tattooed on his arm.
A native of the United States, Nia Ali competes in the 100-meter hurdles and the heptathlon, among other events, on the track and field circuit.
As of the 2016 Olympics, she holds the titles of world indoor 60-meter hurdles champion for the second year in a row and silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles event at the Games.
In this regard, we would like to point out that Nia Ali is already the proud parent of a son named Titus Maximus with American 400-meter hurdler Michael Tinsley.
He earned the Lionel Conacher Award and was selected Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year for 2016. IAAF named him The Rising Star because of his phenomenal performance at the 2016 Olympics. Additionally, Grasse was the 2017 Harry Jerome Award winner.
Education
Andre attended St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic Elementary School while living in Scarborough. When he was in the second grade, his family uprooted to Markham, and he never returned.
That’s where Andre went to school, and he attended Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School. He then transferred to Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy after completing eighth grade.
It is easy to assume that Andre has always been a very athletic person. Apparently, he was a race winner when he was in eighth grade. Later in life, Andre enrolled at Milliken Mills High School.
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Preparatory School
Andre De Grasse signed up for the games when he was a high school student. After that, he decided to join the school’s track and field team, and he ran in his first race at the York Region Championships.
His first race is legendary, as proven by its constant mention in the media. To give an example, Andre ran his first race wearing only basketball shorts and a pair of borrowed spikes.
And he didn’t even bother to use the launching pads. Still, he placed second in the 100-meter dash, third in the 200-meter dash, and eighth in the long jump.
Olympic sprinter Tony Sharpe also saw him and wanted to have him on his team at Pickering’s Speed Academy. Moreover, it was the start of his education under Tony Sharpe’s tutelage.
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Wealth of Andre De Grasse
Andre De Grasse created Canadian history when he won three medals at the same Olympic competition. In a race against Usain Bolt and Justin Gaitlin, De Grass, at age 27, came in third. He raced against Usain Bolt once more in the 200-meter final.
During this now-iconic competition, the two sportsmen shared a knowing gaze and a smile. Even though he came away with silver.
The 2015 contract that Andre De Grasse signed with Puma was worth $11.25 million. Even though nobody knows how much money he actually has.
His total compensation from this deal, including bonuses, was estimated to be around $30 million. The results of his efforts are plain to see: he is succeeding magnificently.
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