American hurdler Freddie Crittenden strategically jogged to last place in his 110-meter hurdles heat at the Paris Olympics to avoid worsening a right abductor muscle injury he sustained during training. This move allowed him to take advantage of the newly implemented repechage round, providing a second chance to advance to the semifinals. Crittenden, the second-fastest 110-meter hurdler this year, acknowledged the decision was to give his body time to heal and avoid a more severe injury. Opinions on social media were mixed, with some praising his 'smart' strategy while others criticized it as against the spirit of the Games. He won his repechage heat with a time of 13.42 seconds, ensuring his place in the semifinals.