Athing Mu is gearing up for a fresh start in 2025 after a challenging 2024 season that kept her out of the Paris Olympics. The American middle-distance runner, who rose to prominence with her stunning 800m gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, had a tough year marked by injuries and the heartbreaking failure to qualify for the Olympic Games. Despite the setbacks, Mu has adopted a new, more relaxed mindset heading into the 2025 season, with a focus on staying healthy, enjoying the sport, and making a strong comeback when it counts.
Mu’s first race of 2025 took place at the Mt SAC Relays in California, marking her return after a nine-month hiatus. She participated in the 5,000m but was forced to drop out after 3,000m. Although it wasn’t the result she had hoped for, her return to the track signifies a promising start to a season that will prioritize recovery and gradual progress.
In a candid interview, Mu shared her reflections on the difficult year behind her. The injuries and her failure to qualify for the Olympics left her feeling frustrated and disheartened, but she’s now shifting her perspective. Rather than setting strict performance targets, Mu is focused on healing and finding joy in racing again. The World Championships in 2025, which will take place in Tokyo—the same venue where she made Olympic history four years ago—hold personal significance. While she hasn’t laid out specific goals for the season, the prospect of returning to Tokyo for another major competition is deeply meaningful to her.
“I don’t know… I kind of have not put too many goals out there,” Mu confessed. “Of course we know there’s Worlds this year, and the last time I ran in Tokyo was for the Olympics four years ago. So hopefully doing that full circle moment will be really fun.” The idea of returning to Tokyo is one that resonates with her emotionally, as it offers an opportunity for both closure and a new chapter in her career.
Mu’s 2024 season was a tough one for many reasons, the most crushing being her failure to make the U.S. Olympic team. After a fall during the U.S. Trials, she missed the chance to defend her Olympic title in Paris. The disappointment of the missed qualification, after an already injury-plagued year, left her and her supporters shocked. However, Mu has now embraced a more optimistic outlook, determined to heal both physically and mentally in 2025.
“My main goal is just to stay healthy, to not be injured, and to be able to compete and have fun again,” Mu said. “Hopefully, I can make it to Worlds and kick some butt there.” Her approach to 2025 is less about pressure and more about regaining her love for the sport. She wants to take things one step at a time, carefully managing her schedule and not rushing back into competition until she is truly ready.
While Mu has not disclosed her full race schedule for 2025, she and her team are prioritizing a careful, well-paced recovery. They plan to gradually build up her strength and race sparingly at first, ensuring that each competition feels like an enjoyable experience rather than a stressful one. “We’re still planning out our schedule,” Mu explained. “We’re really focusing on just staying healthy this year and getting into races just to have fun… getting strength here and there.” Her long-term focus is on being in the best shape possible for the World Championships, where she hopes to make a statement on the global stage.
With a more laid-back, resilient attitude, Mu’s return to the track in 2025 holds great promise. Her trademark confidence and mental fortitude will undoubtedly help her navigate the season with a sense of balance, joy, and renewed purpose. As she looks forward to the year ahead, fans are eager to see how Mu will bounce back and remind the world why she is still one of the most exciting athletes in track and field.
