In a shocking turn of events, defending Olympic champion Athing Mu fell during the first lap of the women’s 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. Spectators gasped as she hit the ground and found herself in last place when she got back up. Despite trailing behind, Mu continued to run, showing good sportsmanship. Nia Akins finished first in the race, with Allie Wilson in second and Juliette Whittaker in third.
Mu, who was making her 2024 season debut after recovering from a hamstring injury, had a rusty start in the preliminary round but qualified for the final. Unfortunately, she fell to the track during the final, causing her to finish in last place with a time of 2:19.69. This meant that she would not have a chance to defend her gold medal at the Paris Olympics. In Tokyo, Mu had made history by becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 800 meters since 1968.
The competition featured dramatic moments, including Michaela Rose taking an early lead and Kate Grace falling at the finish line in the semifinal. Mu’s fall in the final was a heartbreaking end to her hopes of retaining her gold medal. Despite the setback, Mu showed determination and sportsmanship throughout the race.
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