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Two hundred metres into her race, American 800-metre specialist Athing Mu fell during the USATF Paris Olympic Trials. The fall ended her Paris Olympic dream. The 22-year-old could have become the first-ever back-to-back women’s 800m Olympic champion if she had qualified for Paris.
Her coach Bobby Kersee filed a protest, however, it was turned down. Upon review of the race video, it was determined that there was no contact with her competitors, she simply tripped. Mu got back in the race but was too far behind to catch anyone and finished dead last.
The Tokyo Olympic champion is one of the greatest 800m runners of all time with her US and area record (North America) performance of 1:54.97 less than one year ago.
Hard to watch what happened to Athing Mu without thinking of last year's World semi-final – the warning shot about running in the pack.
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) June 25, 2024
With her long, raking stride, this was going to happen sooner or later. Horrible timing – for her and Sage Hurta-Klecker – to occur when it did pic.twitter.com/w0bxc7yuYl
As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics can invite select athletes, Mu should be given the opportunity if she can prove her fitness. Mu should race the 800m at an available meet and run under the Olympic standard of 1:59.30 and finish in a time that is within the top 48 globally. The IOC should allow a 49th athlete if need be. The track and the Olympic schedule can accommodate one more runner. Certainly, athletes are being bumped in favour of unqualified athletes from countries where there are no Olympians.
The Olympic competition is about being faster, higher and stronger. Currently, she is one of the fastest as she is currently ranked eighth in the world.
On June 23rd at Hayward Field Mu ran 1:58.84. In August at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, she earned a bronze medal clocking 1:56.61. Three weeks later she improved her national record to 1:54.97. At the very least, Mu could be named as an alternate and in case of injury to the three who are fairly qualified in Nia Akins, Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker she could be ready.
As there is an emphasis on global ranking and points, not just time standard, surely Mu, the reigning Olympic champion should be invited to the Games if fit and healthy.
