Olympic 800m champion crashes at U.S. trials, does not qualify for Paris
Athing Mu, the youngest female Olympic and world champion in track and field history, will not defend her Olympic title in Paris
Photo by:
Kevin Morris
American middle-distance runner Athing Mu returned to the track for her first race since September 2023 to claim her spot on the U.S. Olympic team headed to Paris next month. After cruising to win her heat in the 800m semi-finals on Sunday with the fastest time of the round, 1:58.84, she had her eyes set on Monday night’s final.
The final, however, was a disaster for Mu. Running in the middle of the pack, she tripped and hit the ground within the first 200 metres of the race. Despite a quick recovery, the two-lap race did not give her enough time to regain her ground. As the pack, led by Nia Akins, surged down the straightaway, Mu trailed behind, claiming the ninth and last place in 2:19.69, 17 seconds behind the eighth finisher.
A devastated Mu broke into tears as she crossed the finish line and walked straight off the track. The 22-year-old holds the American record of 1:54.97 in the event. With Akins winning in a time of 1:57.36, a personal best, it is evident that Mu was unable to truly display her dominance in the discipline. After suffering from a hamstring injury severe enough to put her on the sidelines for more than eight months, the reigning champion will have to continue sitting out as she watches someone new claim the Olympic title in Paris in August.
The sport of racing does not always go to plan. Anything can go wrong, or right, at any time. Olympic rookies Akins, Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker, whose qualifications took even themselves by surprise, will represent Team U.S.A. in the 800m in Paris. Mu will likely have to settle for a ticket alongside them as part of the 4x400m relay pool, and look ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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