Freddie Crittenden kissed the track in Eugene in 2021, believing it would be his final competition.
“I was saying goodbye,” he said. “I knew I couldn't do it any more.”
Three years ago, he barely made it to Eugene, competing in one event and a couple of races in the 110-meter hurdles. He lost in the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Trials.
“I thought about giving up,” he says. “I had no money. I didn't make any money that year and I didn't even make the semi-finals.”
But he didn't. The following year, he ran 13.14 seconds at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, then was selected to represent the United States at the NACAC Championships, where he ran 13.00 seconds flat to win the gold medal in the Bahamas.
That time was the fourth best in the world that year.
“That was something that really changed my mindset,” said Crittenden, 29. “I found happiness with my group, my wife, my friends and my teammates helped me through that moment.”
Crittenden's momentum continued: In June, he ran a personal best of 12.93 seconds to finish behind Grant Holloway at the U.S. Olympic Trials, qualifying for his first Olympic Games and his second consecutive major championship.
“It feels great to be here and accomplish what I've been trying to accomplish for the last 17 years since I started running track,” Crittenden said after her performance.
Of all the stories told at the U.S. Olympic Trials, few are more poignant than Crittenden's.
“It's pure excitement,” he said. “Excitement in its purest form. It's an intangible excitement that you can't put into words.”
The Phoenix-based hurdler, former Michigan High School student and St. Louis native has been a talented hurdler all his life, a multiple-time All-American at Syracuse University and winning a silver medal in the 110m hurdles at the 2019 Pan American Games. But despite traveling the world and enjoying success as a professional, he nearly gave up the sport at age 26.
Going into 2024, he still had no sponsors other than Tracksmith, which provided him with equipment and a place to stay in Eugene.
“I graduated in 2017,” Crittenden said, “and I didn't make a few teams. I was fourth a few times. That put me in a position where shoe companies and sponsors were saying, 'We don't want to bet on this guy.'
But despite a downturn in 2021 that included injuries to both hamstrings during a Diamond League match in Doha, Crittenden refused to give up.
He followed a schedule of training in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, and work in the evening.
After taking whatever jobs he could find, including at a GameStop, in a warehouse and as a substitute teacher, a cousin hired him to run an after-school program for G-Road, a nonprofit that provides resources and positive programs for youth in the Phoenix area.
“That was my stability,” Crittenden said.
After a career-best performance in 2022, he competed at the World Championships in Budapest the following year, where he finished fourth, just missing out on a medal.
But that was the year that Crittenden's perspective began to change.
“It was a big moment last year getting selected to the first team. My wife was there. My coach was there. It was great to have that moment with all of them.”
Training with Phoenix-based coach Tim O'Neill, Crittenden performed well throughout the season, clocking times of 13.30 seconds at the Diamond League in April, 13.16 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic and 13.28 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix of Jamaica.
By the time he reached the Olympic Trials, Crittenden had made up his mind.
He was consistent in his first two heats, finishing with times of 13.16 and 13.05 seconds.
He gave it his all in the final, finishing in a wind-free 12.93 seconds, the first time he'd ever run under 13 seconds in his career and the second-best time in the world.
“It's pure excitement,” he said. “Excitement in its purest form. It's an intangible excitement that you can't put into words.”
When is the Paris 2024 Olympics?
The Olympics will begin on July 26 and end on August 11. Track and field events will begin on August 1.
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