Athing Mu reacts to a glimpse of devastating fall from 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials that ended her Paris Games quest

Athing Mu recently reacted to a glimpse of the nasty fall she endured during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, held at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The fall abruptly ended her campaign at the Paris Games.

After taking a brief hiatus to recover from a hamstring issue, Mu returned to track at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials to compete in the 800m with the aim of defending her title at the French capital. After clocking a remarkable time of 1:58.84 in the semifinal round, she booked her place for the ultimate showdown.

However, in the final round, Mu found herself tangled in a crowded field of runners just 200m into the race, losing her footing and crashing to the ground. Despite a strong recovery, the gap proved too wide to close, crushing her hopes of clinching back-to-back medals at the prestigious event.

As the 2024 year came to its conclusion, Cortney White, a photographer assigned during the U.S. Olympic Trials, shared a few glimpses from the event, featuring Mu battling through the race. Sharing the picture on her Instagram story, the American athlete exuded her confidence and preparedness to compete in the event again.

"I'll try again next year," she wrote.

Screenshot of Mu's Instagram story.

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Athing Mu receives honor after featuring in mural art in her hometown in New Jersey

Athing Mu of Team United States poses during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Getty Images)

Athing Mu was recently celebrated in her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. She was featured in mural artwork, highlighting her 2020 Tokyo Games achievements.

Born in Trenton to Deng Mu and Aluel Lual, who immigrated to the United States from South Sudan in 2000, Mu collected her first Olympic gold medal in the 800m event during her debut appearance at the quadrennial games. She clocked a notable time of 1:55.21.

To achieve this historic victory of becoming the youngest U.S. woman to win an individual Olympic track and field title since Wyomia Tyus, she defeated Keely Hodgkinson and fellow American Raevyn Rogers, who posted 1:55.88 and 1:56.81, respectively.

She was recently honored as a part of the "Breaking Barriers" mural artwork, created by seven local artists. Her portrait, measuring an impressive 19 feet by 19 feet, was featured on the wall of the New Jersey State Prison.

Along with the gold medal in the 800m at her debut Games, Mu also bagged a gold medal in the 4x400m relay event alongside Sydney McLaughlin, Allyson Felix, and Dalilah Muhammad.