Over the past decade, André De Grasse has been the face of Canadian athletics.

Heading into the Paris Olympics, De Grasse, one of two athletes chosen to carry Canada's flag at the opening ceremony, has six Olympic medals and has stood on the podium in every event he has competed in in Rio and Tokyo.

In 2016, De Grasse became the first Canadian sprinter to win a medal in the 100 metres since Donovan Bailey won gold in Atlanta two decades earlier. He then became the Olympic champion in the 200 metres in Tokyo, the first time a Canadian had won the distance since Percy Williams in 1928.

Behind De Grasse is a new generation of talented sprinters heading to Paris, ready to show Canada what they've got.

On Thursday, August 1, the date athletics resumes at the Olympic Games, here are five promising sprinters to watch in Paris and beyond:

Audrey Leduc

It was an unforgettable year for Leduc.

In April, Leduc became Canada's fastest woman by setting a new record in the 100 metres. Leduc's time was 10.96 seconds, which broke the record of 10.98 seconds set by the late Angela Bailey in 1987.

A few weeks later, Leduc led the women's 4×100 relay team to Paris, the first time the women's team had qualified for the Olympics since Rio. Leduc ran the third leg in a blistering time of 10.18.

The 25-year-old from Gatineau, Que., will compete in both events at his first Olympic Games, in addition to the 200 metres. Leduc also holds the Canadian record in that distance (22.36).

“I've seen her go through different obstacles and overcome them with such grace and determination,” relay teammate Sade McCreath said of Leduc.

They both entered the national team program around the same time and were roommates at every camp and competition.

“I’m incredibly proud to see her finally get to where she wanted to be. He deserves it because he works so hard,” McCreath said.

Christopher Morales Williams

Morales Williams of Vaughan, Ont., will compete in his first Olympic Games after an exceptional season.

In May, at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he set a Canadian record in the 400 metres, clocking 44.05. To put that in perspective, Morales Williams ran 0.03 seconds faster than the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist (44.08).

Morales Williams was also named a finalist for the NCAA Bowerman Award, given annually to the top male and female track and field athletes, and turned professional after his collegiate season ended.

“Every month this guy does something that makes me get off the couch and jump up and down,” Morales Williams' coach Tony Sharpe of the Velocity Academy Athletics Club told CBC Sports.

“Christopher is a very complete player. His commitment to improving every day is something that stands out.”

Morales Williams, who turns 20 on Aug. 5, will compete in the 400 meters in Paris. In his professional debut at a Diamond League event in Monaco in mid-July, he finished sixth. He found himself in the same spot at another stop in London a week later.

But Morales Williams' professional career is just beginning and the future looks bright.

“I think it could be the best of all time,” he said. “I think I could break the outdoor world record.”

Malachy Murray

When Murray was in 10th grade, his mother found a crumpled track meet permit in the bottom of his backpack.

After leaving football, Murray had little interest in athletics, but his mother, Elaine, encouraged him to take up the sport. He went to school and went into the principal's office to ask if it was too late for Malachi to surrender his license.

Nearly a decade after that first outing, Murray is on his way to the Paris Olympics. He filmed himself breaking the news to his mother, a moment he called “surreal.”

“She invested as much in me as I invested in the sport,” Murray told CBC Sports.

Murray holds the second-fastest time in Canada this year, a 10.01 recorded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in April.

This remained the country's highest mark until De Grasse ran 10.00 metres in Finland in June.

“I think the nine-second streak is there,” Murray told CBC Sports before leaving for Paris. “I think there will be several, but I don't know when.”

The 24-year-old from Edmonton took an unconventional path to the national team. He didn't compete in the NCAA or train at a track and field facility.

But Murray is improving every year, waiting for the right moment to get a chance behind Canada's dashing superstars.

“We've had a hard time getting into the team,” Murray said. “They've got their key players who have already won medals for Team Canada, right? So the time is now. “We don't know if it's now.”

Murray will not compete in any individual races in Paris, but will be available for the 4x100m team.

“He's hungry and he's not afraid,” said relay team veteran Brendon Rodney.

Eliezer Adjibi

Adjibi replaced the 4x100m relay team at a Diamond League meet in London last month before the team embarked on pre-Olympic training.

Adjibi and Duan Asemota joined regulars Rodney and Jerome Blake to finish fourth in London.

The 23-year-old from Ottawa has the fourth-fastest time among male sprinters in the country this year, having run 10.04 in Guelph, Ont., in June. Asemota is one spot ahead of him with a time of 10.03 in May.

Rodney said he was impressed with the performance of the team's younger sprinters in an Olympic year, often outpacing the veterans on the relay team.

“The important thing for them now is to get international exposure and this is the final piece for them,” Rodney said.

“They’ve been doing some really fast times. They’ve been right alongside us. Now they have to compete internationally and do things, and they’ll be as good, if not better, than us.

Lauren Gale

Gale travelled to Tokyo with Team Canada in 2021 at just 21 years old as a member of the 4x400m relay team, but never competed.

Even though he stayed away, it was an experience that inspired Gale to return to the Olympics.

“Every time I went to practice, I was like, 'Okay, I'm going to add two more pounds to the weights or I'm going to do just one more rep because I want to make the team and I want to make sure I'm running,'” Gale told CBC Sports. “That got me excited.”

The Ottawa native, now 24, will compete in the women's 400 metres at the Olympics. Gale's best time in the distance this year is 50.47, No. 1 in the country among female sprinters.

A group of 16 family members and friends will cheer him on in France.

“I’m really excited to go,” Gale said. “I’ve worked for years to get to this place. So once I get there, I’m really excited to achieve my goal and happy to have friends and family with me.”

Gale was also able to compete in the 4x400m relay in Paris and failed to qualify for the mixed 4x400m relay.