Defending Olympic champion Athing Mu advances to 800m semis in season debut at Trials | NBC Sports

it was just quite the reception for this 22-year-old from Trenton New Jersey a Thing mo there's really nothing that she has not done yet except Run for the last N9 months competition you're right Lee and let me tell you something this would not have felt like an Olympic trials without a Thing mo so I am so delighted to see her on the track she suffered some hamstring kind of soreness her coach Bobby C Cy told us that delayed the start of her season but I'm so happy that they got her back on the track she's such a bright star in the sport she's Olympic champion world champion of course she got the bronze for the first time we saw her being overtaken at this discipline but it was a a tough season for her she talks about it mentally and physically and so we're just hoping that she's at her best because she is a joy to watch a joy to watch some of her family are here there's Dad Deng on the right and family members cheering her on look uh Sim to Michael Norman uh in addition to physical uh things that needed to time to rest and recover she needed some time out as well well before the break we showed you her on the throne she was the queen she set two American record she was the Olympic champion the world champion here in Eugene and yet she talks about how awful 2023 was for her so as we have seen with multiple athletes as Lee said you take some time off and you remember how much you love the sport and your event the a thing mode that I encountered this week is ready to be back and ready to defend her title in Paris there was just like a a truckload of stones on her shoulders every time she ran from all of us because she made it look so effortless she was just always at the front always winning but there was even in her own words it everything came so fast too much so much pressure it was like I'm not having fun anymore and that's exactly what she said she said the more I won the more it felt like oh my gosh I have to win the next one until you know look her worst race in what 3 years as a bronze at Worlds she didn't have a bad year last year it was just not an A Thing mo type year and she's just tucked in behind allly Wilson of Pennsylvania who has had a good indoor season this year by the way and one of the things we love About a Thing mo is that she can really win from anywhere she likes to be in the front but I like her position now she's obviously needing to feel it back out she's done this a million times before but training is training and competition is a different story and so she's going to want to come out here and see how she feels she's not looking quite like the a thingo yet where she has those wheels turning big but she seems to have it under control AO there's no way that she could be because she's so under raced the last time she ran was on this track at Prefontaine last year which doubled as the diamond League final she set the American record but nothing since then but she's in a good position here you see that contact there between Schon halfen and Michaela they were scrambling meanwhile Keegan McKenna Keegan is tucked in behind Ali Wilson and a thingo here we go you want to be in the top six to get that automatic transfer to the semi-finals a thingo Ali Wilson but there's some charges up on the outside Keegan's going to follow them home Ally Wilson will take the win over Keegan and a Thing mo that first race back has happened I don't think she ever had to go to her kicks on you and that's a good thing why because if you're dealing with a limb that is still sore and in this case it's her hamstring you don't want to stress it at all and certainly not in the first round right very true I don't I'll say this the one thing about a Thing mo that I remember always keying on is look at her arms she has such low carry here which means she is not on the gas if a thing wanted to go for it she opens she pushes with her arms and so she's still taking it easy the reality is OT she just needs needs to make the team she doesn't need to do anything special here it's not about times it's not about records it's about getting herself on the team to Paris and then putting in more work after having that injury so this is a good run for her a good showing she was easily in the top three and I'm excited to see what she does in the next round Le they're only about three or four Americans under 2 minutes flat this year you're telling me that a Thing mo if she manages these rounds properly can't run and get on this team I think she can so when you come back from a break as we show you the results of that heat when you come back from a break what's that first race back like it never feels good you feel like a fish out of water but guess what she's gotten it out of the way all right let's check in with lwis Lewis thank you all righty well what did it feel like to walk out here and get the reception the welcome back from the crowd I know this would be a great home uh homecoming for me uh not being able to compete the whole entire season but coming out now I mean it's onlyp Bic trials I've always R really well when I came out here so it's awesome to have this amazing crowd out here to support me how did your body respond at least at at this moment to uh to racing again yeah I mean I feel like it was just like any other first race for me just giving the legs a little shocker to wake up a bit uh get it moving again so I mean I think this is a great starter for me and then it'll just help me in the next rounds to come great to see you back thank you I appreciate it lee ah there's that trademark smile a Thing mo is back

Channel: NBC Sports

Views: 46,785

Keywords: U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, u.s. track and field, track and field, track and field highlights, track and field olympics, team usa, olympics, olympics trials, u.s. olympic trials, u.s. olympic track and field highlights, u.s. trials, athing mu, athing mu highlights, athing mu olympics, athing mu us olympics, athing mu paris 2024 olympics, athing mu us track and field trials, athing mu track and field, athing mu 800m, women's 800m, women's 800m trials, paris olympics

Id: 0todJay3yYM

Length: 5min 28sec (328 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 22 2024