James Linde wins Canada’s first athletics medal of 2017 World University Games

James Linde put Canada on the board in the medal standings for athletics at the 2017 World University Games.

On Saturday, the Langley, B.C. athlete won silver in the men’s 200m on the fourth day of action at the Taipei global championships for university-aged competitors. The 23-year-old, who was running out of lane one, the innermost lane, clocked 20.96, 0.03 seconds behind champion Jeffrey John of France. First through eighth were separated by 0.23 seconds.

“I had no idea I was second when I crossed the line so when I saw my name up there I almost teared up,” Linde told The Canadian Press. “I never expected a medal and that was amazing.”

What a finish out of Lane 1 for @JamesLinde8 to win @USPORTSIntl ??our first medal with a ?in the M200m- 20.96 into -3.8w! @AthleticsCanada pic.twitter.com/JNgs0oW2qL

— Jason Kerr (@kerrjason) August 26, 2017

“These guys are people I would have thought to be untouchable once upon a time, so this year has been fantastic for me,” he said. Linde finished second to Andre De Grasse at the 2017 Harry Jerome Classic over 100m and came fourth over 200m at the Canadian Track Championships.

The international multi-sporting event, often known as FISU, the French acronym for the International University Sports Federation, is held every two years.

Jessica O’Connell doubles Canada’s silver track medal haul

ATH- MEDAL ALERT! Jess O'Connell (@UCDinos) wins silver in the womens 5000m! Médaille d'argent pour Jess O'Connell au 5000m @AthleticsCanada

— U SPORTS Team Canada (@USPORTSIntl) August 27, 2017

A day after Linde got Canada on the medal board, 28-year-old Jessica O’Connell added a silver medal in the women’s 5,000m, finishing in 15:50.96, five seconds back of champion Hanna Klein of Germany. The 2016 Rio Olympian edged Jessica Judd for second by 0.23 seconds.

O’Connell finished second in the women’s 5,000m at the 2017 Canadian Track Championships.

The Canadian athletics team now has three medals as Brittany Crew, a finalist at the 2017 IAAF World Championships, won gold in the women’s shot put. O’Connell also competed at the recently-completed London world championships, which took place Aug. 4-13.

MEDAL ALERT! Brittany Crew (@yorkulions) wins GOLD in the women's shot put/Médaille d'or pour Brittany Crew au lancer du poids! #GoCanada

— U SPORTS Team Canada (@USPORTSIntl) August 27, 2017

Aug. 28 is the final day of athletics action at the 2017 Summer Universiade. Canadian athletes, as of Aug. 27, have won 13 medals at the 2017 World University Games.