Andre De Grasse visits high school where he discovered sprinting

CTV National News: Back where it all began Peter Akman reports from a high school in Markham, Ont. where Olympic Medallist Andre De Grasse returned to a roar and a cheer.

To most, Andre De Grasse is known as Canada’s fastest man, a three-time Olympic medalist and the apparent heir to Usain Bolt’s sprinting throne.

At Milliken Mills High School in Markham, Ont., they just call him Andre.

De Grasse stopped by his old high school on Friday to visit with students and old teachers, share a message of perseverance and snap plenty of selfies with excited fans.

“I’m here today and I get to be in front of you guys sharing my goals,” he said in front of a packed auditorium.

De Grasse was a high school senior when he began competing in track and field. He had dreamed of being a basketball star, but his natural speed in the 100-metre dash launched him in a different direction. The 21-year-old athlete has since nabbed medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games, the 2015 NCAA Track and Field Championships and, of course, the Rio Olympics.

In his address to the students, De Grasse underlined the importance of education. Now that the Olympics are over, he said he plans to finish his sociology degree.

“I’m just trying to do my best for this country and make my family proud,” De Grasse said.

Students said De Grasse’s inspiring message struck a chord with them.

“It inspired me to stay true to myself and I guess to try out new things,” said one student.

“Anybody can do it as long as you put your mind to it and try,” another said.

The star athlete stuck around after the talk and laced up his shoes for the school’s Terry Fox Run, a non-competitive event that aims to raise money for cancer research.

With a report from CTV’s Peter Akman