Improvise, adapt, overcome.
American hurdler Chris Robinson had broadcasters scrambling to apologise as his penis slipped out of his shorts mid-race during the men’s 400m hurdles at the Golden Spike meet in Czech city Ostrava.
4
Robinson’s drama began in the first half of the race as he was witnessed doing all he could to keep his baton intact.
But just as Robinson rounded the final bend, it all came unstuck quite literally.
After the American clipped a hurdle, he and the world quickly realised the immediate result was much worse than a few milliseconds lost.
Vision quickly captured Robinson picking up some unnecessary wind resistance as his penis escaped into free air.
Robinson desperately tried to avoid a new instalment of Free Willy with his left hand as he continued the final sprint.
He had to remove his left hand to ensure he cleared the final hurdle, resulting in his genitals slipping out of his shorts once again.
Rather remarkably, Robinson put his bodily malfunctions to one side and stumble over the line in first place.
After a somersault, which threatened to expose his reproductive organ to the world once more, Robinson rolled over onto his belly and quickly make the necessary readjustments.
Impressively, Robinson’s final time of 48.05 seconds was his best of the season.
Unfortunately for the American, he was just one tenth of a second from his personal best.
4
4
If only he wasn’t dealing with some unwanted drag.
The 24-year-old’s rivals, who witnessed Robinson’s desperate attempts to tuck his penis back into place, could barely hold in their laughter as they came over to congratulate him.
Robinson’s wardrobe malfunction left commentary duo Tim Hutchings and Hannah England producing some of their best work as they struggled to maintain composure.
“He hit that ninth hurdle hard,” Hutchings said.
“He was having an equipment failure there. I think that is probably the politest way to put it.
“That’s a brilliant run from the American – to be constantly adjusting certain parts of his equipment and certainly his anatomy down the home straight and that top bend.
4
“Goodness me, that’s a very relieved Chris Robinson.
“It’s nearly a personal best with those constant adjustments going on. But boy, he just stayed in front, dipping at the line.”
To make Robinson’s nightmare even worse, his twig and berries were on full display as broadcasters showed full-frontal replays of the final stretch, prompting an apology from England for the unfortunate viewers.
“There hasn’t been time to censor them, but well done to Chris Robinson for battling a problem that does emerge occasionally,” Hutchings said.
“Perhaps in a race every two or three years you see scenes like this from men and women with parts of their equipment failing.
“It can make it very, very awkward but that was a stunning effort to stay out in front with all that going on.”
