Former Yellowknifer, Akeem Haynes, wins bronze at Rio Olympics

A former Yellowkniferis bringing home the bronze medal after the U.S. men's Olympic4x100 relay team was disqualified, moving the Canadian team up to third place.

"I don't know, man, that's crazy," said Akeem Haynesafter finding out his team had won bronze.

The 24-year-old, who lived in Yellowknife from 1998-2004,started the team off Friday night, running one of his best legs, according to his mother,Carlene Smith. Smithstill lives in the city.

"I knew Akeem was fast, but..." Smith trails off, still in shock from her son's accomplishment.

Originally, Canada was fourth, with Haynes, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and anchor Andre De Grasse stoppingthe clock at a new national record of 37.64, lowering the mark of 37.69 set in Atlanta for 1996's gold-medal win.

Jamaica, anchored by the amazing record-setting sprinterUsain Bolt, won gold.Japan won silver, and originally the United States came in third.

But then the U.S. wascharged with anillegal baton exchange, with officials saying the team's leadoff runner, Mike Rodgers, passed the baton to Justin Gatlin outside the exchange zone.

That meant America was out and Canada was in. The Canadian team tookthe bronze medal.

"I'm proud of these guys, man, that's all I can say," Haynes said to CBC's Scott Oake. "You know, we came out here and we had a job to do and we trusted each other.

"We got it done, man."

Haynes currentlylives in Calgary, where he attended high school and was named to the national team in 2012.