Athletics: 800m ultra-favorite Athing Mu will miss the Olympics after a fall at the American selections

Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu fell during the merciless American selections on Monday in Eugene (Oregon) and will not be able to defend her title at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11). Every four years, the terrible trials reserve some surprises and disappointments for American athletes, to whom the Olympic selection system offers no room for error, regardless of their record.

Mu (22 years old), Olympic champion in the 800m and 4x400m relay in Tokyo in 2021, among the favorites for the podium in Paris, saw her hopes of a medal disappear after 200m when she fell, apparently embarrassed by a competitor as is often the case in these disciplines run in a peloton. Mu got up and attempted a return, ultimately impossible, only to cross the line resigned and in tears.

Also world champion in this same Hayward Field stadium in 2022, Mu, who trains in Los Angeles with historic coach Bob Kersee, had not raced all season before the trials, due to an injury to her a hamstring which had delayed his preparation.

Nia Akins won the double lap in 1 min 57 sec 36 and will be accompanied in Paris by Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker. Surprise again, the reigning world discus champion Laulauga Tausaga (26 years old) did not succeed in a single throw during qualifying, thus missing the final and the Olympics.

Wilson, 16 years old and at the Olympics?

A little earlier, hurdler Grant Holloway, three-time world champion in the 110m hurdles, had soared in the heats with a time of 12 sec 92 (0.8 m/s wind), the best world performance of the year. .

Elle St. Pierre won the 5,000 m (14:40.34), where the queen of the university season Parker Valby tried everything by leading almost the entire race, but failed in 4th place, out of the qualifying positions for Games.

Jeremiah Davis dominated the length (8.20 m) and double world medalist Anna Hall the heptathlon (6,614 points). World champion in the 4x400m relay last summer, Quincy Hall triumphed on the lap in 44 sec 17, his record, ahead of 2022 world champion Michael Norman (44.41) and Chris Bailey (44.42).

The phenomenon Quincy Wilson, aged only 16, took 6th place in 44 sec 94. Wilson has a good chance of being selected in the relay collective (men’s and mixed 4×400 m) and thus becoming the youngest American athlete male to obtain a ticket for the Olympic Games.