what happened to athing mu

Athing Mu, the American middle-distance runner and 2021 Olympic 800m gold medalist, has faced a series of setbacks and challenges in recent years. In 2024, four weeks before the U.S. Olympic Trials, she tore her hamstring, which severely affected her performance and recovery. At the Trials, she had a fall during the women's 800m final, which disqualified her from making the Olympic team despite finishing the race. She appealed the decision, claiming she was illegally clipped by another runner, but her appeal was denied. This injury and fall marked a difficult period in her career, as she couldn't compete properly for about a year. In 2025, Athing Mu made her comeback but struggled to return to her peak form. For example, at the Prefontaine Classic 2025, a track where she previously set an American record, she finished 10th, showing signs of rust. At the 2025 Ed Murphey Classic, she ran the 800m in 2:00.42, placing sixth, which was better but still far from her sub-2-minute times she had achieved in 2021-2023 when she won World medals. Despite these struggles, she entered the 2025 U.S. National Championships 800m event last minute and is seen as still being in the early part of her career with optimism about regaining her top form. However, she faces tough competition, and her recent performances indicate she has a challenging road ahead to achieve her previous dominance in the event. In summary, Athing Mu has dealt with serious injury, a fall that cost her an Olympic spot, and a difficult comeback period with subpar performances compared to her peak years. She is currently working to regain her fitness and competitive edge but remains far from her previous top form in the 800m. If you want more detailed updates about her latest competitions or future prospects, I can help with that as well.