Paris 2024 Olympics: What is the repechage in athletics? How it works and why repechage is in Olympic Games

This instalment of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will include repechage rounds for all events from the 200m to 1500m flat events, as well as in the hurdle events. This new format will give athletes a second chance to qualify if they do not advance out of the heats. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe believes it will ensure athletics takes centre stage.

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World Athletics have introduced the repechage rounds to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will give athletes a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals.

What this means is if an athlete does not qualify out of their heats they will be able to compete in the repechage round for another shot.

It is particularly important for those who can sometimes be hindered by a fall or something else that is out of their control.

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Sebastian Coe, overseeing World Athletics, stated: "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."

What events will have the repechage rounds at the athletics?

Due to the 100m already having a preliminary rounds ahead of the heats, there will not be a repechage round introduced to this event.

The repechage round will only be in short- to middle-distance events in the athletics because it is harder to recover from the long-distance events such as the 5000m and 10,000m.

The full list of repechage events includes:

Women's 100m Hurdles
Men's 110m Hurdles
Men's and Women's 200m Hurdles
Men's and Women's 400m
Men's and Women's 400m Hurdles
Men's and Women's 800m
Men's and Women's 1500m

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What are the repechage rounds in athletics?

The repechage has essentially been put into place to allow athletes a second chance to qualify out of the heats and secure a spot on the start line in the semi-finals.

To qualify for the semi-finals, those who do not get automatic qualification for the event will have to compete in the repechage.

This new system will replace the current one in which athletes are rewarded for running faster in the heats, also known as 'fastest loser.'

This means the order of play for for track events up to the 1500m, including hurdle events, will consist of four rounds rather than the normal three. The rounds will be: heats, (and repechage), semi-finals and finals.

Those who get automatic qualification out of the heats will therefore only race three times, presuming they get to the final.

Meanwhile, athletes who do not advance out of the heats will have to race a second time in the repechage round, meaning those who make the finals via this route will race four times in total.

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Why has the repechage rounds been introduced to the athletics?

The repechage rounds have essentially been added to Paris 2024 to give athletes a second chance to make the finals.

The repechage adds an extra layer to the narrative. If an athlete has to take the repechage route and finishes on the podium in the finals, it will be a memorable comeback story for fans to enjoy.

Athletics events are notorious for a large amount of falls, which has hampered many in reaching the podium at the Diamond League and national championships. The repechage will allow any who fall another opportunity to advance.

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