Athing Mu, the 2020 Olympic 800m champion, is brushing off concerns after finishing last in the women’s 800m at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Despite the surprising result—clocking 2:03.44 in her return to the event—Mu remains optimistic and focused on the long-term goal: returning to top form in time for the upcoming U.S. World Championship Trials.
Mu had not competed in an 800m race for nearly a year, making the Prefontaine Classic her season debut in the event. The race was won by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma in 1:57.10, with Mu unable to match the pace or rhythm of the front runners. Yet, she was quick to attribute her underwhelming performance to a lack of race preparedness rather than any long-term decline in form.
She acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized that her buildup to the race had been far from ideal. Several meets she had planned to use for sharpening her race fitness were cancelled, leaving her with fewer opportunities to build competition rhythm. While her training sessions had gone well, Mu noted that race conditions demand a different level of sharpness and execution.
“It definitely sucks not being able to have run a couple of 800s before this,” she reflected. “Working out at practice is really great, but when it comes to competition, it takes a little bit more.”
The lack of recent race experience was evident as Mu struggled to find good positioning early in the race and couldn’t respond in the final lap. Still, she treated the performance as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. “I clearly didn’t get my positioning at all during the race, and I think that was the biggest takeaway,” she said. “Hopefully we just fix it up over the next couple of weeks.”
Looking ahead, Mu is now focused on the U.S. Trials, where she hopes to qualify for the World Athletics Championships. After missing out on the Paris Olympics due to a fall during the qualifying rounds, she is determined to make a strong comeback on the world stage. The road back may be challenging, but Mu is embracing it with maturity and resilience.
“It’s a little unfortunate how this one went, but I’m just happy that I’m not crazy down about it,” she said. “I know it’s been a while, and this is just what comes with coming back.”
Confident in her ability and supported by experience, Mu is staying grounded and focused on peaking at the right time.
