Maine Hurdler Goes Viral After Turning Track Stumble Into Gymnastics Move

A Maine high school track athlete is getting national attention after turning what could have been a painful fall into one of the smoothest saves you’ll ever see.

Greely High School sophomore Sofia Cutter was competing in the 300-meter hurdles at a meet in York when she came down awkwardly after clearing one of the hurdles. Instead of hitting the track, Cutter’s gymnastics instincts kicked in.

She put her hands down, rolled her momentum forward, and turned the stumble into what looked like a cartwheel or front walkover before popping right back up and finishing the race.

The moment was caught on video and quickly took off online. According to the Portland Press Herald, the clip had already racked up millions of views, along with thousands of likes, comments, and shares. Cutter’s family has reportedly heard from national outlets including ESPN and “Good Morning America.”

Cutter is not just a hurdler. She has also trained as a competitive gymnast, which explains why her body seemed to know exactly what to do in the middle of a race. What looked like a viral trick was really an athlete protecting herself and somehow keeping the race going at the same time.

And yes, the finish counted. Even though Cutter briefly came out of her lane during the save, she returned quickly and did not interfere with other runners. She ended up finishing second in the race, WMTW reported.

It is one of those rare sports moments that has everything: athleticism, panic, comedy, and a perfect ending.

Most people trip over a hurdle and eat rubber. Sofia Cutter accidentally auditioned for the Olympics and a gymnastics meet at the same time.