Olympic champion Athing Mu tripped and fell on the first lap of the 800-meter final at U.S. track trials Monday, dashing her hopes for a repeat at Paris.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Olympic champion Athing Mu's hopes for a repeat came crashing down on the backstretch of the first lap of the 800-meter final at U.S. track trials Monday.
The 22-year-old from New Jersey was choking back tears as she headed quickly off the track and through the tunnel after the race. She did not immediately come through the media area for interviews. After winning NCAA, national, world and Olympic championships all before turning 21, Mu won a bronze medal at worlds last year and, afterward, conceded she needed a break from all the pressure, social media and other demands that came along with being tagged as one of track's great new stars.
Mu was racing on the outside in a tightly bunched pack and looked to be veering to her left toward Juliette Whitaker when she tripped and went tumbling, leaving three runners behind her flailing as they jumped over her.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Defending 800-meter gold medalist Athing Mu falls in Olympic trials, will miss ParisDennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Read more »
Olympic Day celebrations bring fun to Utah Olympic Park, Utah Olympic OvalChris joins FOX 13 after spending seven-and-a-half years at KSNW, the NBC affiliate in Wichita, Kansas, where he served as a bureau reporter, multimedia journalist and eventually Sports Director.
Read more »
Utah Olympic Park, Utah Olympic Oval will host Olympic Day Celebrations FridayIf you've ever wanted to try the skeleton, speed skating, or meet some of our Olympic athletes, this is the day to do it.
Read more »
Watch: Former Texas A&M star, Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu fallsMu got tangled with other 800-meter runners in Monday night's final.
Read more »
Trenton’s Athing Mu won’t defend Olympic gold after stunning fall in U.S. trialsTrenton native Athing Mu will not defend her gold medal in the 800-meter run in Paris after a stunning fall in the U.S. trials.
Read more »
Reallocated medals to be celebrated at the Olympics for the first time in ParisWhen the Olympic Games get underway in Paris this summer, there will be an Olympic first.
Read more »