PARIS: American hurdler Freddie Crittenden's jog during the 110m heat at the Paris Olympics on Sunday left many spectators scratching their heads.
But Crittenden, one of the top athletes in the event, has come out to explain that the 18.27-second run was a "strategic" choice due to injury.
He finished last, about five seconds behind the winners, but he was not eliminated from progressing further because there is a repechage round for all athletes who cross the finish line.
Traditionally, the Olympics start with heats, and the top three athletes qualify for the semi-finals or finals, depending on the event.
However, in 2022, WA introduced the repechage round in some events, offering a second chance for athletes who failed to qualify in the initial rounds.
"It was a deliberate choice. Everyone gets through to the repechage, so I decided not to make an emotional choice but a smart one, giving my body some time to recover from being in bad shape, trusting my medical doctors, surrendering to God, and just waiting for the repechage round.
"I'll come out of this round and try to win in the repechage," Crittenden told NBC.
The repechage race will take place today.