A candid explanation of how the newly introduced repechage format will work in track events at the Paris Olympic Games.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games introduced a new format of racing, with the repechage round in the track events from the 200m to the 1500m.
This means that there will be no fastest qualifiers in terms of time in events with the decision aiming to bring a new feel in track races.
World Athletics president Seb Coe noted that repechage round will be a different feel in athletics and noted that the organisers will work to ensure every event will remain in the spotlight.
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“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,” Coe said at the time the new format was introduced in 2022.
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As reported by the Independent, in every preliminary race, there will be a number of athletes who qualify for the next positions by finishing within a certain position. However, those who finish outside of the bracket will be given a second chance with the repechage heats.
The new format will replace the old one where athletes would go to the next levels, final or semifinal through fastest times.
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The new format means that every event will have four rounds, the first round which will be the preliminary, then the second round which will be the repechage round. The third and fourth rounds will be the semifinals and finals respectively.
At this year’s Olympic Games, every athlete will run at least two races. However, there will be no repechage for the 100m, where athletes will only race in the preliminary, semifinal and final.
The other events above the 1500m will also not have the repechage round due to limited time for recovery.