Olympics fans are furious after champion runner Athing Mu failed to qualify for the upcoming Paris games because she tripped during the 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Mu took gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and was heavily to favored to be among those heading to Paris with the U.S. team. But her fall means she is out for the 800-meter, her specialty.
And fans are furious, with some calling for the rules to be changed after what they see as an unfair ruling for Mu.
The mishap occurred fairly early into the race as Mu and the other runners were moving together from their staggered starting positions.
As Mu began to overtake a fellow runner and another runner began to gain on her, Mu tripped, went off balance and fell forward onto the track.
Mu recovered quickly, but not quickly enough to place in the top three spots that go to the Olympic Games. Other runners nearly fell while trying to avoid her as well, including Sage Hurta-Klecker, who was put off pace and also did not make the top three slots.
Mu’s coach, Bobby Kersee, has filed a protest based on the claim that her fall was caused by Mu being tripped from behind.
Instead of Mu, the race was won by Nia Akins, who ran the fastest time of her life. That time was still two seconds slower, however, than Mu's 2021 Tokyo Olympic final win.
The mishap left many demanding that the U.S. change its rules for how athletes are selected.
Many countries have a wildcard system of some kind, where the top three athletes are a combination of those who win at the trials and others chosen by committee—in part to account for mishaps like Mu's. But the U.S. for the most part uses a strictly merit-based system determined by trials only.
This strict system resulting in Mu's ouster from her signature Olympic event had many fans furious and calling for change.
Though she's out of the 800-meter, Mu still has a chance at the U.S. Olympic team in another event for which she helped the U.S. win a gold medal in Tokyo—the 4x400-meter relay.
Either way, it's a devastating pill to swallow for both Mu and her fans.
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