What is repechage? Explaining Olympic track’s new rule that altered a U.S. hurdler’s strategy

It’s not often that a new wrinkle is introduced into Olympic sports, especially one that can become a complete game-changer for athletes. But, for those watching track and field this year in Paris, they’re going to see just that — the introduction of repechage rounds in specific races.

And it didn’t take long for one U.S. athlete to put the new addition to strategic use. Here’s what you need to know about the repechage rounds.

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What is a repechage round?

It’s a second chance for runners. In individual races from the 200-meter dash up to the 1,500, as well as the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles, runners who didn’t automatically qualify out of their respective first round into the semifinals will have another shot to make the semis. In layman’s terms: It’s a mulligan.

Previously, semifinals in these races would be determined by the top finishers in each first-round heat as well as the next few fastest times, regardless of heat.

Notably, the 100-meter dash (where Julien Alfred was crowned the women’s champion already) does not have a repechage round. Additionally, the longer distances and steeplechase do not.

What does this mean for runners?

It allows elite runners who might have had a bad start or struggled during a race, and thus missed the automatic qualification, to have a second chance to move onward through the rounds. However, it also means that some of the track races have now moved from three rounds to four rounds, putting an extra strain — both mentally and physically — on athletes. But, it also means that every athlete running the 200 up to the 1,500 is guaranteed at least two races at the Olympics.

Depending on the race, anywhere from two to six athletes from each repechage round will advance into the semifinal.

Why was this change made?

The change was announced in July 2022 by World Athletics, the governing body for international track and field.

“After consulting with our athletes and broadcasters, we believe this is an innovation which will make progression in these events more straightforward for athletes and will build anticipation for fans and broadcasters,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said at the time of the announcement in a media release. “The repechage rounds will give more exposure to our sport during the peak Olympic period and will be carefully scheduled to ensure that every event on our Olympic programme retains its share of the spotlight.”

When do the repechage rounds take place?

The first repechage rounds took place Saturday — in the women’s 800-meter and the men’s 1,500-meter. Six runners qualified for the semifinals out of the repechage for each. The next repechage rounds are Monday. Here’s the full remaining schedule.

Monday
Women’s 400-meter hurdles: 4:50 a.m. ET
Men’s 400-meter: 5:20 a.m. ET
Women’s 200-meter: 6:50 a.m. ET

Tuesday
Men’s 110-meter hurdles: 4:50 a.m. ET
Women’s 400-meter: 5:20 a.m. ET
Men’s 400-meter hurdles: 6 a.m. ET
Men’s 200-meter: 6:30 a.m. ET

Wednesday
Women’s 1,500-meter: 6:45 a.m. ET

Thursday
Women’s 100-meter hurdles: 4:35 a.m. ET
Men’s 800-meter: 6 a.m. ET

For athletes that make it out of those repechage rounds, the turnaround is quick. The semifinals are the next night for most of those events. In the women’s 200-meter, morning repechage winners will race in the semifinals that night.

Does this have strategic implications?

On Sunday, U.S. hurdler Freddie Crittenden pulled up immediately in his first-round heat in the men’s 110-meter hurdles and lightly jogged to the finish line in 18.27 seconds, nearly five seconds off the leader. After the race, he told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that he did it on purpose because he’s been battling an injury and wanted to save his body for the repechage round.

“It was an intentional choice,” Crittenden said. “Everyone gets through to the repechage. … So I decided to just, not make an emotional choice, make a smart choice, give my body time to recover a little bit from being aggravated, lean on my medical doctors, lean on God, and just wait for the repechage round, come out here and try to kill it in the repechage round.”

The top three finishers in each heat advance to the 100-meter semifinals, so had Crittenden tried and failed to get in the top three, he would’ve ended up in the repechage round anyway — but after taxing his body. By saving himself, he’ll theoretically be racing against a weaker field, with all of the fastest racers already advanced, while also potentially sparing himself from one extra all-out effort.

(Photo of U.S. hurdler Freddie Crittenden taking a light stroll down the hurdles track Sunday at the Olympics: Hannah Peters / Getty Images)