Many viewers watched in fascination as Anna Cockrell raised her hand to start her 400m hurdles race at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The unexpected gesture added drama to the high-stakes event. It also raised questions about its impact on her performance and the outcome of the race.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone WORLD RECORD, Anna Cockrell Silver in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024
Below you can read why Anna Cockrell put her hand up, the racing events that followed and how she reached the final.
Anna Cockrell raised her hand before the 400m hurdles race because she was not ready when the official said "set." Her gesture showed that she was not prepared. As a result, the starter fired the starting gun twice: once to begin the race and again to signal a false start.
This false start caused officials to pause the race and review the situation. After assessing the circumstances, they decided to give Cockrell a green card, allowing her to compete without penalty. Despite the initial confusion, the pressure of the false start, and the extra event added to the race, Cockrell managed to stay focused and calm.
