Athing Mu reacts to her mural art featuring her Tokyo Olympic gold medals in her hometown in New Jersey

Athing Mu recently reacted to a mural dedicated to her 2020 Tokyo Olympics accomplishments, located in her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. Mu secured two gold medals at the Tokyo Games.

Mu clocked a stunning time of 1:56.07 in the 800m event at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials to earn a spot for her debut Games appearance at the 2020 edition. At the quadrennial Games, she clocked a stunning time of 1:55.21 to defeat Keely Hodgkinson and fellow American Raevyn Rogers, who posted 1:55.88 and 1:56.81, respectively.

By collecting her first Olympic medal at her first Games appearance, she became the youngest U.S. woman to win an individual Olympic track and field title, a record previously held by Wyomia Tyus, who claimed it at the 1964 Tokyo Games in the 100m event.

Born on June 8, 2002, in Trenton New Jersey, to Deng Mu and Aluel Lual, who immigrated to the United States from South Sudan in 2000, the Olympian started running around the age of six.

She chose to run for the Trenton Track Club under coach Al Jennings, rather than her high school team. The recently honored artwork is part of the "Breaking Barriers" mural, created by seven local artists. This mural spans 319 feet wide by 19 feet high on the exterior wall of the New Jersey State Prison.

Mu took to social media to share a few glimpses of the mural artwork.

Screenshot of Mu's Instagram story.

She also graced the comment section of the artist's post, writing:

"Thanks so much for creating! 🙏🏿🤌🏿"

Screenshot of Instagram post.

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Athing Mu's quest for a consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 800m came to an end after a devastating fall at the Trials final

Athing Mu at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo via Getty Images)

Athing Mu's bid for a second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 800m derailed after she suffered a nasty fall during the final round at the 2021 Olympic Trials.

After staying away from several races to recover from hamstring issues, Mu competed in the 800m event at the Trials, held at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. She earned a place in the final round after clocking a time of 1:58.84 in the semifinal round.

However, Athing Mu found herself boxed in a crowded pack of runners within 200m into the race and went crashing down on the ground. Although she recovered from the fall, Mu was unable to close the gap, ending her hopes of bagging back-to-back medals at the quadrennial event.