A preliminary contest that determines which competitors advance to the final round. Winners of semifinal heats or matches earn the right to compete for the championship or top positions.
From Latin 'semi' meaning 'half' and 'final' meaning 'end' or 'conclusion.' The term emerged in the late 1800s as organized tournaments developed multi-round elimination formats to accommodate larger fields of competitors.
Semifinals are often more nerve-wracking than finals because athletes must balance two goals—advancing to the final while conserving energy for the ultimate race! Many Olympic records are actually set in semifinals because athletes are running fast enough to qualify but haven't yet peaked for their final performance.
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