Every point in a Riemannian manifold is critical (Q745583)

The authors prove two main results related to critical point theory for distance functions. Consider a closed Riemannian manifold \(M\). Then, for any point \(p\) in \(M\), there exists at least one point \(q\) in \(M\) such that \(p\) is critical for the distance function from \(q\). If \(M\) is a closed smooth manifold, there exists a Riemannian metric on \(M\) such that not every point is the midpoint of a geodesic loop with the property that half the loop is minimal.