For an athlete with a half dozen Olympic medals, writing a childrenB次元官网网址檚 book may seem like no big deal.
But for OntarioB次元官网网址檚 Andre De Grasse, who came home with four medals at the recent Games in Japan, it is another opportunity to inspire the next generation.
B次元官网网址淚 always read to my kids, and I realized that I had a story myself that I wanted to share with them, and what better way than with my own book,B次元官网网址� De Grasse told Black Press Media.
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The Canadian sprinter put the year-long delay for the international competition to good use, finishing work on a childrenB次元官网网址檚 book alongside Victoria writer and historian Robert (Lucky) Budd and Toronto illustrator and comic book artist Joseph Osei Bonsu.
Race With Me! takes a young reader along for the ride, getting ready for race day with world champion De Grasse.
Budd was tagged for the project about a year ago, having previously worked with Olympian Simon Whitfield, also a Greater Victoria resident.
For Budd, getting the emotion and depth required meant pushing De Grasse to think about sights, sounds, smells and feelings of competition. B次元官网网址淜ids donB次元官网网址檛 want to know what youB次元官网网址檝e done, kids want to know what itB次元官网网址檚 like,B次元官网网址� Budd explained. B次元官网网址淚t was intense getting it done for sure but there was joy in it.B次元官网网址�
The resulting story walks young readers through a race.
B次元官网网址淚 hadnB次元官网网址檛 really thought about it from that perspective until Lucky asked meB次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 hoping it helps readers to get a sense of what it actually feels like to run that fast,B次元官网网址� De Grasse said.
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A highlight for Budd is the messaging. ItB次元官网网址檚 not about winning, itB次元官网网址檚 about the joy and fun of running.
De Grasse agreed: B次元官网网址淚ts messages about doing your best, not giving up and loving what you do are important to hear every day.B次元官网网址�
The messaging and mentorship that come through in the book are a source of pride for all three men.
B次元官网网址淜ids are going to be inspired, whether theyB次元官网网址檙e athletic or not,B次元官网网址� Budd said.
Osei Bonsu said the timing was also critical, for the same reasons that delayed the 2020 Olympic Games into 2021 B次元官网网址� impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. B次元官网网址淲ith kids being away from school and being away from friends you have to kind of lift their spirits.B次元官网网址�
The highlight though for De Grasse came once he had his hands on the book.
B次元官网网址淪eeing a finished copy and actually being able to read it to my kids was pretty special,B次元官网网址� De Grasse said.
Race With Me! B次元官网网址� available in both CanadaB次元官网网址檚 official languages B次元官网网址� is recommended for ages 6 to 10 and is available at local bookstores and online.
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