Audrey Leduc Shines at Paris Olympics with New Canadian Record

Audrey Leduc made a stunning entrance at the Paris Olympics, setting a new Canadian record in the 100 meters on Friday morning. The race took place at the packed Stade de France, where Leduc finished with a time of 10.95 seconds, improving her previous record by just a hundredth of a second.

She dominated her heat from the start, leaving her competitors behind, including Jamaican athlete Tia Clayton, who came in at 11.00 seconds. Leduc expressed her satisfaction, saying, ‘I was just looking to get the feel of the track, and I got that with the crowd really lifting me.’ Her impressive performance secured her a spot in the semifinals set for Saturday night.

The competition saw other strong competitors as well, with Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josée Talou-Smith clocking in the fastest at 10.87 seconds and Jamaican star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce closely following at 10.92 seconds. The latter has been a favorite in the previous Olympic Games.

Leduc, 25, shared her excitement post-race, noting, ‘I was expecting a personal best, and I achieved that. To win the race is even better.’ She will also be competing in the 200 meters and the 4×100 relay in Paris.

In contrast, fellow Canadian sprinter Jacqueline Madogo did not advance, finishing fourth in her heat with a time of 11.27 seconds. Meanwhile, veteran runner Charles Philibert-Thiboutot’s Olympic debut was less favorable; he placed second to last in his heat of the 1500 meters, which means he will participate in a repechage scheduled for Saturday night.

Philibert-Thiboutot shared his disappointment, stating, ‘It’s disappointing not to qualify, but I executed my plan perfectly. I was in the top three for the duration of the race. I just needed a little more to keep in the top six.’

As the atmosphere buzzed around him, Philibert-Thiboutot emphasized the competitive dynamics, noting, ‘It’s tough in these races with so many people. I’m looking forward to the next chance and hope to better my performance.’