De Grasse feeling rejuvenated entering Canadian trials after meeting 100m Olympic standard

Rejuvenated by a recent performance, Andre De Grasse is confident he can still outrun the best in the world at this summer's Paris Olympics.

"I'm feeling like my old self again," the decorated Canadian sprinter said Wednesday at Claude-Robillard sports complex. "I'm starting to get back my speed."

De Grasse enters the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic track and field trials after running a season-best 10.00 seconds at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, last week to meet the 100-metre entry standard for the Paris Games.

It was De Grasse's fastest time since September 2021, when he ran the 100 in 9.89 seconds at the Diamond League final.

WATCH | De Grasse posts season's best over 100m in Turku:

The six-time Olympic medallist hasn't posted a sub-10-second time since, but hopes to change that at the trials running Wednesday through Sunday.

"It's my fastest time in three years, since 2021, so that's always a good confidence booster to say, 'Okay, now I'm starting to find my speed back,"' De Grasse said of his performance in Finland. "I know if I have a great start, my top-end speed is there and I'll definitely be able to compete with everyone.

"Last week, Finland kind of just proved to me that I'm coming back, I'm finding my form. Friday night, I'm looking forward to just trying to improve on that."

De Grasse, who won gold in the 200 and bronze in the 100 at the Tokyo Games in 2021, will try to win the men's 100 final Friday.

The 29-year-old from Markham, Ont., is focusing his energy on the 100 and won't compete in the 200 event this week, but will defend his Olympic title in Paris.

WATCH l CBC Sports' Devin Heroux and Anastasia Bucsis preview track and field trials:

A strong Canadian team of world and Olympic