World Relays reveal Canada can lean on depth, continuity in buildup to 2025 world championships

If you're fixated on outcomes, maybe the bronze medal Canada's men's 4x100-metre team earned at World Relays last weekend in Guangzhou, China seems like a regression. 

Canada fielded the same lineup that won Olympic gold last summer in Paris, yet here was Andre De Grasse on the anchor leg, trying but not quite succeeding in keeping pace with South Africa's Akani Simbine in a sprint to the finish line. South Africa took gold in 37.61 seconds, .05 seconds ahead of the United States, with Canada back in third at 38.11.

Last year at this same competition Canada took silver, behind a U.S. team anchored by all-world sprinter Noah Lyles.

No sprinter, after all, can control what happens in another lane, and Simbine is already midseason-sharp. Last month he ran 9.90 into a headwind, a time that still leads the world. He doesn't need permission from De Grasse or any other rival to run fast. The only person who could stop Akani Simbine from a blistering anchor leg was Akani Simbine, and Simbine chose to conduct a clinic.

A bit more perspective.

De Grasse left a group of anchor runners flailing in his wake, and gained ground on Brandon Hicklin, who ran last for the U.S. The post race stats analysis had De Grasse covering the final leg in 8.90 seconds, which means he did his job. A cleaner first exchange between Aaron Brown and Jerome Blake would likely have bumped Canada below the 38-second barrier, and put them within shouting distance of silver.

WATCH | Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney on what makes relay team successful:

Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney explain what makes their Olympic relay team successful

Viewed that way, Canada's foursome is actually well-positioned for the 2025 world championships in Tokyo. A podium performance