American sprint icon on what Athing Mu needs to do to restore her mojo following disastrous season

American sprint icon on what Athing Mu needs to do to restore her mojo following disastrous season

Mark Kinyanjui 20:47 - 27.07.2024

Mu has struggled for form and failed to make the Team USA Olympic setup for the Paris 2024 Olympics following an unfortunate fall.

Former American sprinter Justin Gatlin has expounded onto what has been going wrong for Athing Mu, further giving her tips on what she needs to do to get back to her best shape.

Mu has had a calamitous season. Aside from battling injury, she was not able to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics after being involved in a fall during the USATF trials, and she has never fully recovered from that.

The reigning Olympic champion has generally looked out of sorts, and did not do well in a recent meet where she should have won quite easily but appeared to intentionally slow down in the home stretch.

Many have questioned her preparations, even calling for her to change her coach, but Gatlin believes her bad form stems down to uncontrollable factors both physically and mentally, 

“She is not going to jump back into a race and dominate after she has been injured after a while, but also her traumatic Olympics qualifying experience with the fall and not making the team,” he said on his Ready-Set-Go podcast.

“Talent wise, she is overqualified for the position. It is a mixture of everything. She will have to find her confidence and swagger again, get out there and go and handle these things.”

Gatlin has slammed fans for seemingly having the preference to look forward to the next big thing rather than what is already proven simply because they are going through a low moment in their career.

“One thing about our sport is that we are always writing people off and looking forward to the next. The world is looking for the next Quincy Wilson or whatever. 

“We are always writing people off, people who are already in the spots. Do not write this young lady off.”

The 2004 Olympic 100m champion has also revealed what Mu must do to return to her level-best.

“Let her go back and do her thing and show that she has the fortitude to get the job done.”

Follow Pulse Sports X account for more updates.

Tags: