Hot Take: Athletes should be able to false start an unlimited amount of times

The maximum is not 8 false starts in your scenario. Each individual could false start an infinite number of times. In fact, if I felt I had better endurance than my competitors I could false start 50+ times in an attempt to wear them down. It could be absurd.

I think we can all agree you're a moron and you shouldnt leave your moms basement

The reason the one and done false start rule was added was because people would purposely false start to mess with their competition. That shouldn't be allowed.

Didn't it used to be the rule for diamond league or something that everyone got 1 false start. What ended up happening was almost everyone took their chance to jump and we frequently had races starting 3 or 4 or 5 times?

I do think getting tossed out for 1 false start is a little harsh, but I don't really think there's a better way around it.

Very few meets have the technology to determine it.

Run the race and DQ after.

Haven't we seen it shown that it's possible to react in under 1/10 of a second? Why not have a MarioKark like countdown so everyone can anticipate it and sprints don't involve reaction time? If you go early it's a false start, but if you don't go before the "start" sound you're good.

Man, I remember watching track meets in the late 90s and it would take FOREVER to get through the sprints.

No. The only meet in history that has ever happened with any degree of frequency was 2022 Worlds and that was only because the starting blocks weren't working correctly.

You obviously don't know the history of the sport. At one time unlimited false starts were allowed for all athletes. Athletes took advantage by deliberately false starting to mess with their competitors. The 100 could take an interminable amount of time to run. Also, false starts affect the entire field, not just the false starter, so when the event is finally run, times will likely be affected adversely if fields have to jump, run halfway down the straight, then get re-set.

I agree with not DQ'ing anyone, but instead move their starting blocks back if they false start. It sucks to travel to a meet, pay for a ticket, and then see your favorite athlete DQ'd.

there is an easy solution to this, starting blocks are used in horse racing and MTB races. the gates all open at the same time. if you go too early you will bash your head on the gate.

Zeroethly, I think we can all agree that if we eat from the rear, we crap out the mouth.

It's not just false starts, gals & guys get DQ'ed for twitching. What happened about 1 1/2 year ago with Devon Allen, W.C. wasn't a false start IMO. D Allen twitched in the starting blocks. No advantage was gained by twitching in starting blocks. I don't know a solution but that was a bad deal.

Reading comprehension: I said in the “current system”. To highlight that there is already a possibility of 8 false starts in any given race.