Athing Mu's Paris Olympics dream ends after exclusion from relay pool

Athing Mu's Paris Olympics dream ends after exclusion from relay pool

Abigael Wafula 12:30 - 10.07.2024

Athing Mu's Olympic dream has ended after she was excluded from USATF's relay pool to the Olympic Games.

Defending Olympic champion Athing Mu will miss the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after she was not included in the relay team to Paris, France.

The 2022 world 800m champion failed to make the cut to the 800m team after falling in the final of the race. This forced her to finish ninth in a time of 2:19.69.

Fans had fingers crossed to see her included in the relay pool but unfortunately, she did not make the cut to the team either, making her Olympic dream hit a dead end. In the released U.S. roaster for track and field, the women’s relay pool comprises Kaylyn Brown, Shamier Little, Isabella Whittaker, and Quanera Hayes.

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Mu had been nursing an injury, forcing her to open her season at the U.S. Olympic trials. She began her campaign on a high note, finishing third in the preliminaries of the 800m and proceeded to win the semifinal before stumbling in the final.

She made her Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where she won the 800m and was a vital part of the women’s relay team that won a gold medal at the event. She continued the hot streak to the World Championships in Eugene, claiming the win in the 800m.

At last year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Mu finished second behind Mary Moraa. However, she announced her comeback at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting final, carrying the day in the women’s 800m.

Both Moraa and Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson will be at the Olympics to fight for the coveted title following Mu’s exit.

Meanwhile, world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson and triple world champion Noah Lyles headline the strong fields.

World 200m silver medallist Gabby Thomas and world 400m Hurdles record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have also been included in the roaster. Lyles and Kenny Bednarek are the only athlete set to double in the 100m and 200m.

Defending champions Ryan Crouser (shot put), McLaughlin-Levrone (400-meter hurdles), Katie Moon (pole vault) and Valarie Allman (discus) will also be heading to the Olympic Games.