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In an exciting turn of events in the Paris 2024 Olympic GamesNigeria’s Chidi Okezie came close to qualifying directly for the men’s 400m, finishing fourth in his heat in a commendable time of 45.52 seconds. Despite this setback, Okezie’s Olympic journey is far from over, thanks to a new round of repechage.
Read also: Nigerians Ashe and Ajayi fall short in men’s 100m semi-finals at Paris 2024 Olympics
On Sunday, in the first heat of the men’s 400m, Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith dominated the race and took first place with an impressive time of 44.78 seconds. Close behind was American Chris Bailey in second place with a time of 44.89 seconds. Norway’s Havard Inngvaldsen took third place in the automatic qualification with a time of 45.46 seconds, beating Okezie.
However, the introduction of the repechage round has injected a new wave of hope for athletes like Okezie. This innovative round, which translates to “second chance” from French, offers competitors another chance to advance to the semi-finals. The repechage round is making its debut at the Olympics for track events ranging from 200 metres to 1500 metres, including the hurdles.
“This new round of play-offs is a turning point,” said Chidi Okezie. “It gives us another chance to show our best performance and I am determined to make the most of it. The support of my team and my country keeps me motivated.”
The repechage round is designed to improve the fairness and excitement of the competition, ensuring that athletes who have had a bad day still have a chance to redeem themselves. For Chidi Okezie, this means another chance to prove himself and aim for a place in the semi-finals.
The athletics world is watching the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with bated breath. Okezie’s performance in the repechage round could turn the tide in her favour and allow her to achieve her Olympic dreams.
The innovative inclusion of the repechage round underlines the spirit of the Games, celebrating resilience and providing a platform for every athlete to shine.
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