Athing Mu, the reigning Olympic and World Champion in the 800m, will not compete in the Paris Olympics after a dramatic fall during the USA track and field trials in Eugene. The 22-year-old athlete stumbled on the first lap of the qualifying race and, despite her efforts, could not secure a top-three finish. Nia Akins won the race with a time of 1:57.36, and Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker also qualified for Paris.
Unyielding Selection Process
The rigorous selection process for the US Olympic track and field team leaves no room for error, regardless of past achievements. Mu, who won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 800m and the 4x400m relay, and also secured the World Championship title in Eugene in 2022, fell victim to this stringent system.
Other Notable Results
The trials also saw Laulauga Tausaga, the current World Champion in discus, fail to secure a spot after fouling all her attempts. On a brighter note, Grant Holloway recorded the fastest time in the world this year for the 110m hurdles, clocking in at 12.92, as he continues through the qualifying rounds in Eugene.
