American hurdler Chris Robinson delivered one of the most gripping performances at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava on June 24, battling not just his opponents but an unexpected wardrobe challenge.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Robinson powered to victory in 48.05 seconds, holding off a late charge from Brazil’s Matheus Lima, who clocked 48.11. While the race itself was dramatic, with Robinson digging deep after the final hurdle to fend off Lima’s surge, it was another detail that stirred conversation online.
Midway through the race, Robinson appeared visibly uncomfortable, repeatedly tugging at his shorts after clearing each barrier. A widely shared video captured the moment. It showed him adjusting his gear in what looked like an effort to prevent a full-blown mishap.
His near-wardrobe malfunction quickly became a hot topic on social media. A lot of fans pointing out just how close things came to going south.
As reactions poured in, one brand spotted a golden opportunity to slip into the conversation. Step One, the Australian underwear company known for its snug and supportive bamboo briefs, cheekily responded to the viral clip. A comment that read, “We can help him with that.”
Chris Robinson has been a promising talent. He won the 400m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 48.12 seconds.
After other decent results at different invitational tournaments, he competed at the United States Olympic trials for Paris 2024 and finished fourth. Robinson was one of the athletes who competed in the inaugural track league, the Grand Slam Track of Michael Johnson.
He was one of the participants in the long hurdles category in the opening meet in Jamaica. However, he finished second to double Olympic bronze medalist in the 400m hurdles, Alison Dos Santos.
