Filipina-American hurdler Lauren Hoffman’s Olympic dream ended as she finished seventh and last in her repechage race for the women’s 400m hurdles at the Stade de France on Monday, August 5 (Manila time).
Despite a valiant effort, Hoffman clocked 58.28 seconds, placing her 20th out of the 21 hurdlers relegated to the repechage.
The repechage races offered Hoffman a second chance at securing a semifinal berth, but only the top two finishers from each of the three repechage heats advanced.
France’s Shana Grebo, with a time of 54.91 seconds, and Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova, who clocked 54.95 seconds, secured their spots in the semifinals.
Hoffman, who set a national record of 55.72 seconds earlier this year, could not match her previous performance, recording a slower time in the repechage than her 57.84 seconds in the heats.
In an Instagram post, Hoffman expressed heartfelt gratitude.
"Even though I couldn’t represent the country in the way I know I can, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. More than the times, the goal is always to glorify God and inspire others, and I hope I was still able to do that in some capacity. Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. Thank you ALL for the endless support, maraming salamat at laban Pilipinas ❤️🇵🇭," she wrote in the caption.\
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The last hope to clinch a medal in hurdles is John Cabang Tolentino, who secured an outright semifinal berth after finishing 32nd overall in the men's 110m hurdles and will proceed to the repechage round on Tuesday (Manila time).
Filipina boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio have also secured podium finishes in the 33rd Olympics after advancing to the semifinals of their respective events.
Meanwhile, EJ Obiena also finished his journey in the 2024 Olympics with a fourth-place finish in the pole vault, failing to clear the 5.95-meter mark in all three attempts.
The Philippines has currently won two gold medals in the Paris Games, both courtesy of World Champion gymnast Carlos Yulo.
