This surprised Andre De Grasse at first.
In late October, the seven-time Olympic medalist from Markham, Ont., received a call from the governor general's office saying he would receive the Order of Canada on Wednesday.
DeGrasse, who turned 31 on Nov. 10, didn't expect to be recognized even though he is still active in athletics.
“You don't usually get that reward until you're older—you're in the second or third stage of your life, I'd say somewhere in your 50s or 60s,” he said.
“It was really cool to get that so early in my life and just show off, I think, all the good work that I've done, not just on the track but off the track. So, honestly, it was a huge honor for me, and yeah, there's still obviously a sense of shock.”
The Order of Canada is the country's highest civilian honor, with appointments at three levels – Knight, Officer and Member. De Grasse was appointed member.
De Grasse became the first Canadian to medal in all three sprint events during his Olympic debut in Rio 2016. He won two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in three Olympic appearances in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 relay.
He also has six world championship medals – one gold, two silver and three bronze – the latest of which was a silver for the men's relay team in September.
Off the track, he supports young athletes through the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program.
The program provides access to mentor and coach Tony Sharp, a former Canadian relay medalist, as well as an annual grant, local club membership through Athletics Canada, nutritionist support and a counselor for student-athletes.
Since its inception in 2018, the program has supported 57 recipients in five provinces, providing $170,000 in funding. Five of these athletes went on to Team Canada in track and field. Collectively, recipients earned more than $2 million in NCAA scholarships.
De Grasse also recently hosted the first Andre De Grasse Holiday Sprint Festival in Whitby, Ontario. Elite high school athletes, Paralympians and Special Olympians competed in the 60, 200 and 300 meters on December 20th.
Despite his efforts, recognition for his work off the track never crossed his mind.
“You don't think about it because that's probably what you think about later when you get older because … you're just focusing right now – on your career, your family and all the other things that are important or taking up all the space,” De Grasse said.
In 2023, he received the Order of Ontario in recognition of his outstanding athletic achievements and significant contributions to youth empowerment through sport and education through his foundation.
“I’m just proud of everything I’ve done,” he said. “And hopefully I can continue this for many years to come.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025.
