Athing Mu, the current Olympic 800-metre champion, will not run for her title again in the 2024 Paris Olympics after losing in the US trials. About 200 metres into the race in Eugene, Oregon, the 22-year-old athlete stumbled as she ran in the middle of the pack and finished last.
Mu was supposed to be a major challenge for Keely Hodgkin of Team GB, who finished second in the 800m event in the Tokyo Olympics.
The unexpected turn of events for bronze medallist Mu at the 2023 World Championships demonstrated how tough it is to make it to the U.S. track and field team for the Olympics.
Bob Kersee: She took it hard
After the loss, Mu’s coach, Bob Kersee, admitted: “She took it hard and she should… It’s a four-year wait for another Olympic trials. I told her, ‘Accept the pain. You worked hard for this. But don’t let it tear you down.’”
Mu veered a little too close to Tokyo Olympian Raevyn Rogers while she was sprinting in the third lane. Both athletes seemed to get tripped– Rogers maintained her balance and Mu fell to the ground.
Mu had tears in her eyes when she crossed the finish line. Her record of 2:19.69 time was more than 20 seconds slower than that of the winner, Nia Akins, or Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker, two other Paris qualifiers.
Kersee said that several racers “impeded” Mu and that he lodged a protest with USA Track & Field. Kersee added that the appeal was turned down.
Source: BBC, Yahoo Sports