'I was gutted'- Keely Hodgkinson reacts to Athing Mu missing Paris 2024 Olympic Games

'I was gutted'- Keely Hodgkinson reacts to Athing Mu missing Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Abigael Wafula 14:00 - 30.06.2024

Keely Hodgkinson has empathised with Athing Mu after her appeal was denied by the USATF committee which will force her to miss the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games 800m silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson has empathised with defending champion Athing Mu after she fell in the women’s 800m final at the US Olympic trials and failed to make the cut to the team.

The Briton explained that she would always strive to win fairly and what happened to her American rival was unfortunate. The world 800m bronze medallist encouraged Mu and was confident that she will bounce back stronger.

After finishing the race ninth, the American, through her team, filed a protest on Monday night with the claim that the track spike marks on her leg show that she was hit by the runner behind her. USATF officials also reviewed the footage but denied the appeal on Tuesday morning with no details being released to the public.

On Wednesday, Mu’s representatives appealed the decision, but within an hour, they were denied again.

“I am…I was really gutted. I feel like people get surprised when I actually say that but I feel like I always want to beat people fair and square,” Hodgkinson said.

“It’s still going to be so hard without her there...it’s not nice to see that and even for me I wouldn’t want to see an athlete and a person go down like that and just be so upset. I’m sure she’ll be fine and she’ll bounce back.”

While comparing the US and UK athletics systems, Hodgkinson noted that both have pros and cons but she prefers the US system.

She explained that the US system is fairer and everyone has an equal chance of making the cut to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“I feel like both have their pros and cons. I do like the US system because I do think it’s like fair and everyone turns up but like if I was American we could not be doing the 400m so I feel like you take your pick…it is what it is and what I can do is just focus on myself,” she added.

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