Paris Olympic Games 2024: Reigning 800m champion Athing Mu suffers qualification heartbreak after fall at trials
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Published 25/06/2024 at 08:14 GMT
Athing Mu has achieved plenty in her tender years competing in athletics, but that will pale into insignficance after a devastating qualification near miss in the final of the US Olympic trials. The 22-year-old could not hold back her tears after a costly fall in the first lap, which ended her chances of defending the 800m title at Paris 2024.
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Reigning 800m Olympic champion Athing Mu will be dethroned at Paris 2024 after the American took a tumble in the 800m final of the US Olympic trials.
Mu collided with a congested group of runners as she was sent tumbling to the ground, and despite standing back onto her feet, she finished 22 seconds adrift of eventual winner Nia Atkins.
Atkins won with a time of 1:57.36, while Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker took second and third with times of 1:58.32 and 1:58.45 respectively.
This was the latest setback in an injury-plagued year for the 22-year-old, who was visibly devastated after the race.
The 2022 world champion was returning to action after nine months out due to a troublesome hamstring injury.
Despite that particular issue, she showed few signs of rustiness in the opening two rounds and looked to be running freely.
However, disaster struck in the 800m final and her hopes of defending the title were effectively dashed in the first lap.
The Olympic qualification process via the US trials is notoriously gruelling, with only the top three finishers sealing a place at the Games.
All hope is not yet lost for Mu, who could still take part in Paris by running as part of the US relay pool - a category where she won gold in the 4x400m at Tokyo 2020.
Among those who did secure qualification include Elle St Pierre and Elise Cranny, who both sealed their places in the women's 5000m.
Meanwhile, Vashti Cunningham prevailed via jump-off for third and will take part in her third Olympic Games at Paris 2024.
Teenager Quincy Wilson faces an agonising wait to find out if he has done enough to book his plane ticket to the French capital after coming sixth in the 400m final.
The 16-year-old will hope to be called up as part of the US track team relay pool.
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