Freddie Crittenden First Athlete To Make Final From Olympic Repechage Round

American Freddie Crittenden became the first athlete in Olympic track and field history to reach a final after progressing through the Repechage Round.

Aug 7, 2024 by Cory Mull

Freddie Crittenden First Athlete To Make Final From Olympic Repechage Round

There's a first for everything, and in 2024 it seemed very likely that we would get history at the Paris Olympics.

With the inclusion of the repechage rounds, a new wrinkle put in motion by World Athletics in 2022, athletes in certain events -- in disciplines starting at 200 meters and ranging all the way to the 400 meter hurdles and 1,500m -- essentially would be given second-chances to qualify for the semifinals.

An American became the first athlete in Olympic track and field history on Wednesday to progress all the way from the repechage round to the Olympic final.

Meet Freddie Crittenden.

Solidifying an American trio in the 110 meter men's discipline, the former Syracuse hurdler -- who finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June with a career best time of 12.93 -- booked his ticket to the final on Thursday and now becomes an interesting bit of track and field trivia.

Crittenden's progress through the rounds, however, was strategic.

Referencing an abductor issue following a first round that saw the U.S. star jog his first race, he later clarified that the timing of his events played to his advantage and gave himself more time to heal.

"It's really not a new thing for my coach and I," Crittenden said on Wednesday in the mixed zone about his work with his coach, Tim O'Neil, the pair both based out of Phoenix, Arizona. "We always go the route of, if your body's not feeling it, we can plan B, do something easier, take it slow. It looks a little bit different at Olympic championships, but that's kind of what it was. My body wasn't feeling it and I wanted to make sure I can have another day to really give it a good go. I didn't want to go out there and kind of give it a half effort."

On Tuesday, Crittenden ran the fastest time out of the 110mH repechage rounds, clocking a smooth time of 13.42 over the first heat to move to the semifinal.

On Wednesday, he continued his path to the final, finishing second over the second section in 13.23. He now says he feels nearly fully healthy.

"I feel good, I feel good now," Crittenden said. "Now it's just managing fatigue."

And what's more, his performance, along with the dominant display of Grant Holloway and the qualifying race of Daniel Roberts, now puts three Americans into the final.

Those three own the top three times in the world at 12.86, 12.92 and 12.96.

Holloway's performance on Wednesday became the first under 13 seconds at the Paris Olympics, with the Gainesville-based athlete clocking a time of 12.98.