Nineteen-year-old Athing Mu’s extraordinary performance Tuesday night at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics did more than just bring home the gold; it reintroduced Team USA into the conversation surrounding the women’s Olympic 800 meters. The New Jersey native is the first American to win at that level in more than half a century.
Mu, pronounced “Mo” (the announcer at the games initially butchered her name), won in 1 minute, 55.21 seconds — a new American record and the fifth-best time in Olympic history. The rising star is only the second American woman to win that event, following Madeline Manning in 1968. Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson won silver with a British record of 1:55.88, while fellow American Raevyn Rogers earned the bronze with a time of 1:56.81.
The teen, who is of South Sudanese descent, told reporters after the race that she didn’t let the pressures of winning get to her, stating, “I came in very relaxed, my mind was very chill I wasn’t nervous or anything.” She added, “I was just ready to go, ready to do what I had to do to get on that medal stand.” Still, the idea of winning gold was “insane” to the Nike signee, who told The New York Times, “I knew this was where I was supposed to be at this point in time.” She added, “As long as my mind was right, I was going to accomplish.”
Mu turned pro just before the Olympic Trials in June but had already set multiple collegiate indoor and outdoor records in the 800 meters and 400 meters, in which she won three NCAA titles, and 4x400m relay as a freshman at Texas A&M University. At 16, she won a US championship in the indoor 600 meters, setting an American record in the process.
Now, the star is looking to break another record — at the world level. Mu revealed to reporters that she’s “also gonna break the 800 world record, eventually.” She added, “Not eventually. We’re gonna break it at some … we’re gonna break it.”
Jarmila Kratchilova of the former Czechoslovakia holds the world record at 1:53.28, established in 1983 when she was 32 years old.
