(CNN)It's a situation we can all relate to: You get on the wrong bus, lose track of time and come close to missing an important appointment -- or in the case of Hansle Parchment, almost don't make your semifinal in the 110 meters hurdles at the Olympic Games.

Jamaica's gold medal-winning hurdler narrowly avoided embarrassment thanks to a volunteer who gave the athlete money for a taxi after he accidentally traveled to an aquatics arena instead of Tokyo's Olympic Stadium on the day of his race.