It was the end of a phenomenal season for Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams, who, after moving on to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m with an automatic qualifying spot from the first round, will not be moving on to the 400m final. He crossed the line during in his semi-final heat in eighth place, with a time of 45.25. Although he fell short of his goal to make it to the final, and his dream to bring home a medal for Canada, Morales Williams will leave the Stade de France as an Olympic semi-finalist.
Post-race, the Vaughan, Ont., native said he had mixed feelings of disappointment, gratitude and hunger. “Now that I’m done, I wonder, did I really fight the nerves?” Morales Williams said after the race, “but I know that yes, I came out here and I did my best. I showed that I belong.”
“There might have been more than my anxiety was getting in the way of, but now that it’s done, I can’t complain,” Morales Williams added. “I obviously wanted to win gold, but I already had an incredible season, and I can’t get greedy just wanting to win everything.” His breakthrough season has impressed the world; he set three indoor national records, signed a six-figure contract with Adidas as a professional athlete and became the first Canadian man since 2012 to run in the 400m event at an Olympic Games–all at the tender age of 20.
Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams advances to 400m semi-finals
Morales Williams won the 2024 NCAA 400m title competing for the University of Georgia and was named a finalist for the Bowerman Award, which is given to the best annual male and female track and field athletes in the NCAA.
“Back in Grade 11 or 12, I didn’t think I was good enough to even get a scholarship,” Morales Williams says. “Next thing you know, I’m one of the best of all time. I honestly can’t believe that I’m here in the Olympic semi-finals and the whole world is watching me run.” He says he remembers watching these world-class athletes on TV, and now he’s racing right alongside them.
The Canadian discussed how his long season made it difficult to peak toward the end of the year. “Because I did so well early on, it made it harder for here,” he says.
Now, he looks forward to a long-awaited summer break with friends and family, where he won’t have to think about track.
Morales Williams believes the experience will fuel the fire for next year’s world championships in Tokyo. “A lot of these guys had experience, and that’s the advantage they had over me–now I have the experience here and at Diamond Leagues, and next year I’ll be a pro,” he says. “I just will win world outdoors or world indoors, and I’ll be back next Olympics to win gold and get the world record. You name it, I’ll have it all–just watch.”
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Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and New Balance Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.
