repechage

American  

[rep-uh-shahzh] / ˌrɛp əˈʃɑʒ /

noun

1. (in cycling and rowing) a last-chance qualifying heat in which the runners-up in earlier heats race each other, with the winner advancing to the finals.

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repechage British  

/ ˌrɛpɪˈʃɑːʒ /

noun

1. a heat of a competition, esp in rowing or fencing, in which eliminated contestants have another chance to qualify for the next round or the final

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Etymology

Origin of repechage

1925–30; < French repêchage second chance, equivalent to repêch ( er ) to fish up again ( re- re- + pêcher to fish; Middle French, Old French pescher < Vulgar Latin *piscāre, Latin piscārī, derivative of piscis fish ) + -age -age

Example Sentences

Sinden will face a winner of the taekwondo repechage bouts for the chance to add bronze to his Olympic silver from three years ago.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2024

GB's Revee Walcott-Nolan finished second in her women's 1500m repechage to qualify for the semi-final at the second attempt.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2024

Lina's twin sister Laviai qualified for the women's 400m semi-finals and Amber Anning won her heat, although Victoria Ohuruogu must go through to the repechage round.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2024

Later in the competition, strong amateur surfers increasingly began knocking out top world surfers as they carved and slashed their way into the next round, forcing numerous professional athletes into a repechage.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2024

That evening the boys went down to the water in Griinau to watch the repechage boats and learn who would join them, Hungary, and Switzerland in the medal race.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown