Andre De Grasse will miss World Relays with 2nd baby due next month

Three-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse won't be with Canada's sprint team when it races on the global stage for the first time in more than a year.

Canada is sending a team of 24 athletes to the World Athletics Relays next month in Poland in the quest for Tokyo Olympic berths, but De Grasse and partner Nia Ali, the reigning world 100-hurdles champion from the U.S., are expecting their second baby.

"With the obvious focus being the Tokyo Olympics we have made the decision to pass on the World Relays this year. I have a baby due in early May and wouldn't want to risk being overseas when the baby arrives," De Grasse said in a statement. "I wish the best for my teammates and for all involved in the event."

"I know going into the championship that Glenroy (Gilbert), our head coach, will convey the message of qualifying for Tokyo before anything else," said Brown, who'll race the men's 4x100-metre relay. "As one of the veteran leaders on this team, I echo that sentiment."

The meet marks the first global track event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will bring together 1,000 athletes from 46 countries vying for spots in both the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 world championships in Eugene, Or.

De Grasse and Brown were both on the men's 4x100 relay that won bronze at the 2016 Olympics, but it has yet to qualify for Tokyo.

"Globally, everyone has struggled over the past year, but in Canada we have faced a number of challenges including several lockdowns and a lack of training space for our athletes," Gilbert said.

The 24 Canadians will gather for a training camp in Baton Rouge, La., before travelling to Poland.

"Due to the global pandemic it has been well over a year since this group has trained or competed together," Gilbert said. "This camp will be essential in building back the group cohesiveness and unity, not to mention the skills required to run fast as a team."

De Grasse, a 26-year-old from Markham, Ont., won silver in the 200 and bronze in the 100 at the same world championships in 2019 in Doha, Qatar, that Ali captured the women's hurdles title. Ali scooped up their daughter Yuri for her victory lap, while her son Titus from a previous relationship ran alongside them.

Canadian roster

• Bolade Ajomale, Richmond Hill, Ont., 4x100 metre.
• Andre Azonwanna, Toronto, 4x100.
• Khamica Bingham, Caledon, Ont., 4x100.
• Jerome Blake, Kelowna, B.C., 4x100.
• Bismark Boateng, Brampton, Ont., 4x100.
• Aaron Brown, Toronto, 4x100.
• Alicia Brown, Ottawa, women's and mixed 4x400.
• Leya Buchanan, Mississauga, Ont., 4x100.
• Austin Cole, Sherwood Park, Alta., mixed 4x400.
• Joshua Cunningham, Scarborough, Ont., mixed 4x400.
• Crystal Emmanuel, Toronto, 4x100.
• Shaina Harrison, Vaughan, Ont., 4x100.
• Farah Jacques, Gatineau, Que., 4x100.
• Audrey Leduc, Quebec City, 4x100.
• Sade McCreath-Tardiel, Ajax, Ont., 4x100.
• Philip Osei, Toronto, Ont., mixed 4x400.
• Micha Powell, Montreal, women's and mixed 4x400.
• Madeline Price, Toronto, women's and mixed 4x400.
• Brendon Rodney, Etobicoke, Ont., 4x100.
• Zoe Sherar, Kitchener, Ont., women's and mixed 4x400.
• Gavin Smellie, Brampton, Ont., 4x100.
• Aiyanna Stiverne, Laval, Que., women's and mixed 4x400.
• Katherine Surin, Montreal, women's and mixed 4x400.
• Sage Watson, Medicine Hat, Alta., women's and mixed 4x400.