Freddie Crittenden’s repechage gamble pays off at the Olympics

Sunday’s qualifying heats in the men’s 110-meter hurdles featured one of the most strategic decisions yet at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Freddie Crittenden, who posted the second-fastest time in the world this season in the discipline during the U.S. Olympic Trials, finished five seconds off the pace in his qualifying heat.

The reason? Crittenden was dealing with a right abductor muscle aggravation he suffered during training on Sunday. Rather than push himself during his qualifying heat and risk further injury, Crittenden took it easy during the heat, knowing he had a chance at a mulligan.

Thanks to Tuesday’s repechage round.

Introduced in 2022 and in use for the first time in the Olympics in Paris, the repechage round gives athletes in certain disciplines who did not automatically qualify for the semifinals a chance at one more race to advance. Knowing this route was available Crittenden took it easy on Sunday, giving himself a chance to heal for today’s repechage round.

Which Crittenden won, booking himself a spot in tomorrow’s semifinals. Crittenden won with a time of 13.42 seconds, booking the first of two spots in the semifinals. Spain’s Asier Martínez finished second with a time of 13.46 to book the other spot.

Following the repechage round, Crittenden talked about his decision with Lewis Johnson of NBC Sports, and offered praise for team doctors and trainers:

The one potential drawback to the repechage route is the schedule. Having run on Tuesday, Crittenden races tomorrow against a field of runners working on multiple rest days.

Still, Crittenden’s plan worked, and his shot at Olympic glory remains intact.

Update: Crittenden just completed his semifinal run in Paris, and finished second in his heat, automatically qualifying for Thursday’s final.

According to plan.