Olympics 2024 viewers say ‘that’s 1,000 IQ move’ as 110m hurdler jogs through race and finishes FIVE SECONDS off winner

READY, Freddie, SLOW! A gold-medal hopeful wowed viewers with a “1000 IQ move” but bemused others as he deliberately came LAST in a hurdles heat – by a huge margin.

Olympic debutant Freddie Crittenden was FIVE SECONDS off the winner, despite arriving at Paris 2024 as the second-fastest 110m hurdler in the world this year.

AFPFreddie Crittenden was so far behind it was like a race of his own[/caption]

RexCrittenden was out of sight but not out of his mind as it was tactical[/caption]

The American belatedly celebrated turning 30 on Saturday… by finishing belatedly the following day.

Fans were split over his odd move, and were also divided once a full explanation was given.

Crittenden revealed afterwards he was “slightly injured” – with an “aggravated muscle” in his leg.

He knows a below-tepid performance in the heat means he has failed to qualify for the semi-finals… except for a controversial rule allowing a second chance.

The top three in each first-round race plus the next-three fastest hurdlers go through.

However, it’s not all heat ‘n miss – as there is another route to the semis, one which Crittenden expects to exploit.

The “repechage rounds” are held on Tuesday – enabling heat flops a final opportunity to qualify.

Crittenden aims to be fully fit after another 48 hours – for a case of “Trading Races”.

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And the Missouri star said: “I just had to stick to the plan.”

One fan called it a “1000 IQ move”.

And another was impressed – although you could say it was by five times LESS..

They wrote: “200 IQ move. Freddie Crittenden jogs through his hurdle heat knowing he will automatically qualify for the repechage round.”

However, many viewers had watched his half-paced hurdling unaware of the reason he turned it into a Sunday stroll.

One said: “What happened to Crittenden omg? What was that.”

Another posted: “What was bro doing. Freddie Crittenden must be mad at something.”

Meanwhile, some fans reckoned his decision made a mockery of the rules.

One, perhaps not knowing of the athlete’s injury, wrote: “Freddie Crittenden is the reason that repechage shouldn’t exist. Using his heat as a warm up. Ridiculous.”