AS if the world of men's sprinting didn't have an extraordinary cast of characters already, along comes Canada's 20-year-old Andre De Grasse.

Outstanding victories at the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in both the 100m and 200m made headlines on both sides of the border for the young man who has just completed his first year at the University of Southern California (USC).

Super-quick, albeit wind-aided, times of 9.75 and 19.58 in Eugene just added to the excitement.

Soon after his picture adorned posters across Toronto, as Canada's largest city hosted the 2015 Pan American Games, and with the guidance of his USC coach, Caryl Smith Gilbert, who has carefully nurtured him - bearing in mind his youth - he won both sprint events in Toronto.

Anyone who might have suggested his 9.95 personal best was nothing to shout about would have been duly impressed by his 200m victory in Toronto.

Canadian record

Running a sublime Canadian record of 19.88 - from lane eight no less - he marked his entry into the elite sprint ranks. Now he has set his sights on running both the 100m and the 4x100m at the World Championships, Beijing later this month.

The prospect of facing Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Asafa Powell is an opportunity he relishes.

"I have never faced any of those guys. I have lined up against Usain Bolt in the 4x100 relay at the Commonwealth Games last year, but that didn't go very well," he explained, reflecting on a botched baton pass by Canada.

"I am really excited and looking forward to seeing how I match up against them and see how far I can get. I am really going to take it one race at a time. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself or full of myself. And if I make it to the final, hopefully, just go out there and compete and do myself proud."