Paris 2024 Olympic Games: repechage rounds to be introduced in Athletics

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will feature 'repechage rounds' in some events of the track and field competition, World Athletics announced on Monday (25 July 2022).

“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”, said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

But practically speaking, what will it mean?

How does the repechage work?

In each first round heat on the track, a certain number of athletes will guarantee their progress to the second round by finishing in the automatic qualifying positions (for example, the top 3 finishers in the heat, regardless of their finishing time).

Athletes who do not qualify by finishing in the automatic qualifying positions in round one heats will have a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals by participating in repechage heats.

This new repechage format will replace the former system, when athletes would advance through fastest times, sometimes known as 'lucky losers' in addition to the top placings in the heats.

What are the consequences?

From a practical standpoint, it means these events will now have four rounds: round one, repechage round, semi-finals, and the final.

One very positive aspect is that every athlete competing in such events including a repechage round, will run at least two races at the Olympic Games.

What about 100m and long distance?

The 100m has preliminary heats before round one, so repechage for this event will not be introduced. Regarding long distance (from 3000m), the repechage will not be introduced either, because the need for recovery between rounds is too important and makes the format impractical.

The full schedule of events at Paris 2024 was released in July 2022.