Anna Cockrell (Credits: wcnc.com)
Why was Anna Cockrell disqualified from the 400m hurdles finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Here is all you need to know
Anna Cockrell was disqualified from the 400m hurdles finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that took place on the 4th of August.
She had qualified after coming second in the semi-finals behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Cockrell clocked a timing of 54.17 in the same event.
In the finals, Cockrell took on some of the best in the business, especially her countrywomen Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad.
While a tight competition saw Mclaughlin finish just 120 milliseconds ahead of Muhammad to win the Gold medal. She also broke the world record for the fastest 400m hurdles timing in the women’s category.
McLaughlin clocked in at 51.46 seconds, while Muhammad came in at 51.58 seconds. Bol, the Dutchwoman settled for Bronze, with a timing of 52.03 seconds.
However, there was controversy elsewhere, as Cockrell was disqualified from the finals. Although, she wouldn’t have gotten the medal, as she came in at number 7, just ahead of Panama’s Gianna Woodruff, a disqualification in the finals is something you wouldn’t take back home.
So why was the American hurdler disqualified?
Anna Cockrell started at lane number 8. And there was nothing like a false start or something on that grounds from the American.
In fact, viewers were left confused why Cockrell had ‘disqualified’ alongside her name, despite finishing the race.
The news of her disqualification took over Twitter in no time, but initially, no user had a concrete reason why the 23-year old was disqualified. The announcers did not announce the same as well.
However, it was later revealed that she had stepped into another lane during the course of the race, which had resulted in her disqualification.
Having been a world U20 champion, Cockrell was looked upon as a massive prospect for the USA in the Olympics.
She won the Gold medal at the World U20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz back in 2016.
The qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was held on the 27th of June, 2021. It was held in Eugene, Oregon.
She came third after the two future Olympic Gold and Silver medalists came first and second. While Sydney McLaughlin, broke the then-world record with a timing of 51.90 seconds, Dalilah Muhammad came second with a timing of 52.42 seconds.
Cockrell came in at number 3 and qualified for the Olympics thereby. She ran a timing of 53.70 seconds, which was her personal best as well.
Her previous personal best was at the 2021 NCAA championships.
Having qualified for the Olympics, Cockrell qualified for the semi-finals after placing third in the heat 1 of the women’s 400m hurdles. Her timing was – 55.37 seconds.
In the semi-final she put on a splendid show, finishing second behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands, and thereby qualified for the finals.
Anna Cockrell was born on the 28th of August in 1997.
Anna Cockrell’s brother is Ross Cockrell, football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Anna Cockrell was born in San Ramon, California.
Anna Cockrell’s personal best in the 400m hurdles is 53.70 seconds which she achieved at the Olympic qualification in 2021.
Anna Cockrell was disqualified from the finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to a lane change.
