EUGENE, Ore. — The path to Olympic glory took an unexpected turn for Athing Mu on Monday night, as the reigning Olympic 800-meter champion’s bid to defend her title came to a heartbreaking end at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Mu, who had been sidelined for several months due to a hamstring issue, showed no signs of rust in the early round of the race last Friday after qualifying with the fastest time entering the final.
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However, the unexpected situation happened in the title race on Monday when she tripped and fell at around the 200-meter mark, effectively ending her chances of making the team for Paris.
The 22-year-old took a few seconds to regain her composure and resumed the race, but the damage was already done. The entire field was already gone.
Despite her valiant effort to catch up, Mu ran out of steam before crossing the finish line last with a time of 2:19.69, far behind the leaders.
Nia Akins punched her ticket to the Olympics by clocking an impressive 1:57.36 to win the title with a new personal best. The fast-finishing Allie Wilson also secured the second spot with a season’s best time of 1:58.32, while collegiate star Juliette Whittaker rounded out the top three with a big lifetime best effort of 1:58.45.
Mu, who had shown promise in the earlier rounds of the trials was left in tears as she leaves the track ripping up her race bib.
Her absence from competition now means Great Britain’s world and Olympic silver medalist, Keely Hodgkinson will start as the favorite to win the gold medal in Paris later this summer.
