Why athlete intentionally finished last in Paris Olympics

Freddie Crittenden of the US track and field team was content with finishing last in the 110-meter hurdles, earning praise as a master of using a long-overlooked rule by spectators on social media.

The 29-year-old athlete, participating in the competition for the first time, was five seconds behind the winner of Sunday’s race—his fellow American, Grant Holloway—despite arriving in Paris as the second-fastest 110-meter hurdler in the world this year.

In the hurdles, the top three finishers of the first-round race advance, along with the next three fastest competitors. However, there is also a chance for redemption through the 'repechage round,' which Crittenden aimed to utilize.

He later revealed that he had a 'minor injury' and 'overstrained muscles' in his leg while running and knew that performing at a lower level would end his chances of qualifying for the semifinals, except for the complex rule that provides a second chance.

After his performance on Sunday, Crittenden spoke about his decision to finish last: "So, it was an intentional choice. It was either get top three or everyone gets in through repechage. Every athlete has a chance to run in the repechage.”

"So I decided not to make an emotional choice, but a smart one. Give my body time to recover a bit from the strain. Trust my doctors. Trust God. And just wait for the repechage rounds.

‘Come out [here] and try to kill it in the repechage round.’

He now looks forward to a 48-hour recovery to be fit and ready to run on Tuesday.