PARIS — Audrey Leduc is the fastest woman in Canada, not on Earth, and while it’s quite something to set a national record at your debut Olympics, it’s not necessarily enough to put you in the vicinity of a podium.
So far, Leduc is only in the conversation, but it’s a lively one.
The 25-year-old from Gatineau, Que. was among 16 Olympic rookies in the 26-woman field for the 100-metre semi-finals on Saturday at Stade de France, and that in itself was an accomplishment. Better yet, she emerged basically in the middle of that pack, crossing the line in 11.10 seconds to finish 12th overall in her first seriously cutthroat international competition.
That too is something, and in time it will probably feel like enough. But after winning her heat on Friday in that national record time of 10.95 seconds, she wanted more. She wanted the fast-tracked Olympic dream.
Those things take time to find their shape, and on this night, she was fifth in her semi-final, missing out on the automatic qualifier spots that went to the top two, and she was also edged out on advancement by time, .03 seconds shy of a spot in the biggest show on the biggest stage her sport offers.
“There is not much difference. That’s it, that’s beauty,” she said. “That’s what gives you a show. That’s life.”
That’s a pretty healthy attitude, and Leduc has consistently shown the mental toughness that is such a vital component of a sprinter’s tool kit. When she adds a bunch more international experience, she’s going to be a factor more often than not when these big races come along. For now, she thought and hoped of a spot in the final, but she’s probably one Games too soon.
On Saturday, that spotlight belonged to Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, who blazed through the rain to win a gold medal in a national record time of 10.72 seconds. She left reigning world champ Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. setting for silver, while Melissa Jefferson of the U.S. grabbed bronze. Leduc was a spectator at that point, though a pretty satisfied one.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a disappointment, we’re still in the Olympics, it’s my first experience in the Games. So to say it’s a disappointment, it’s true that I would have wanted to make it to the final, but I don’t think it’s a disappointment in itself.”
You will see her again in the 200 metres on Sunday — it might even be her better event — and the 4×100-metre relay later in the track meet. And there is every chance you will see her in Los Angeles in 2028, perhaps on a podium. Assuming she is still running fast for a living, she will be 29-years-old and possibly in her prime.
In an event that is all about attaining the smallest number possible, age creep is seen as a limiting factor, but the final field here featured some of the grand old stars of the athletics circuit; 35-year-old Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of the Ivory Coast and 32-year-old Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland. The semi-final also featured 28-year-old Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain and 29-year-olds Bree Masters of Australia and Gina Bass Bittaye of Gambia. Olympic legend and holder of eight Games medals, 37-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, withdrew just prior to the semi-finals.
The vast majority of athletes in the field, however, were 20-somethings running 10-something and 11-something, and the median age was 25, so Leduc fit right in. And though her start showed signs of hesitation, she said she didn’t feel intimidated by the star-studded field.
“I would not say it’s intimidating, but it’s for sure different than what I’m used to do back home. It’s not the same level, so yeah, it’s different. It’s just the energy is different. It’s higher, so to just take that and put that in my next race and just learn from that and take it in to be able to myself do that in the future.”
She was in lane five, with Tia Clayton of Jamaica on one side and Great Britain’s Daryll Neita on the other. They finished first and second and advanced to the final.
On Friday, when Leduc shaved one hundredth of a second off the Canadian record she set this spring, she looked comfortable doing it. Her start was crisper, her finish stronger and more proficient. She didn’t even lean into the line on Saturday, and that might have made things even more interesting. But the whole performance was just a bit less than optimal. Her reaction time, for instance, was better than only two other runners in her semi.
“Well, we need to look at the video first, but for sure it was not as good as it was yesterday,” she said of her start. “So yeah, to make the final, we would have needed a perfect start, but that didn’t happen.”
In time, there is a good chance she will in fact see this event and these Games as the perfect start to her career.