'We were pumped': Markham mayor all smiles as hometown hero Andre De Grasse wins silver

More than 200 fans in Markham, Ont. cheered wildly for hometown favourite Andre De Grasse as the sprinter raced across the finish line on Thursday night to take home silver in the men's 200-metreat Rio.

"We were pumped," MarkhamMayor Frank Scarpittitold CBC News of the final race, in which Jamaica's UsainBolt won the gold medal.

"What a race to watch. He moved up the ranks, he got that silver medal and pushed Bolt to try even harder."

• Usain Bolt dominates for 200-metre gold, Andre De Grasse gets silve

Bolt placed firstwith a time of 19.78 seconds, while De Grasse came in a close second with a time of 20.02 seconds. The medal is De Grasse's second, following his bronze for the men's 100-metre.

The crowd at what Markham callsits Olympic Square, near Birchmount Road and Enterprise Boulevard, included lots of families with children. Manypeople jumped to theirfeet when he crossed the finish line.

"Our community is very, very proud of Andre as an athlete. But I have to say, we're proud of him also as an ambassador, not only ofthe city ofMarkham, but obviously ofCanada."

The mayor admitted feeling nervous as he watched De Grasserun in the final.

"I was nervous. We have such high expectations of him. He certainly has proven himself in short a period of time," Scarpittisaid. "We know the pressure, the moment, can always lead to a different turnout."

Scarpitti said the city is planning a welcome home event for De Grasse at the Markham Pan Am centre in mid-September.

"This community will give Andre a wonderful homecoming that he deserves," he said.