Athing Mu-Nikolayev facts for kids
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Mu competing at the 2022 World Athletics Championships
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| Born | June 8, 2002 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 124 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 meters, 400 meters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Texas A&M Aggies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nike Trenton Track Club (youth) |
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| Coached by | Bobby Kersee (2023–) Milton Mallard (2021–2022) Al Jennings (youth) Bernice Mitchell (youth) |
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Medal record
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| Updated on July 24, 2022. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Athing Mu-Nikolayev (born June 8, 2002) is an American middle-distance runner. She is known for being super fast on the track! Athing is the youngest woman ever to win both Olympic and World Championship titles in a single track event.
When she was just 19, Athing won a gold medal in the 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also helped her team win another gold in the 4 × 400 meters relay race. In 2022, she became the 800m World Champion, which was a first for an American woman.
Athing holds the world record for athletes under 20 in the indoor 800m race. She also has a world best for under-20 athletes in the indoor 600m, which she set when she was 16.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Athing Mu was born and grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. She is one of seven children. Her parents moved to the United States from South Sudan.
Athing started running track when she was only 6 years old. Instead of joining her high school track team, she chose to train and compete with the Trenton Track Club. She finished high school in 2020.
Amazing Career Highlights
Athing Mu has achieved many great things in her running career. She has broken several records and won major championships.
Breaking Records in 2019
On February 24, 2019, Athing broke the American women's record in the 600-meter race. She ran it in 1 minute and 23.57 seconds. This was almost as fast as the world record!
Olympic Gold in 2021
The year 2021 was a huge one for Athing. She set new college records in the 400 meters and 800 meters indoors. She also set an outdoor college record in the 800 meters.
Athing qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which happened in 2021). She won two gold medals there! She won the women's 800 meters race, leading from start to finish. Her time of 1 minute and 55.21 seconds broke the American record. This was the first time an American woman won the Olympic 800m race in 53 years! She also won gold with her team in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
After the Olympics, Athing continued to shine. She improved her American 800m record even more. She won 35 out of 36 races that season. Because of her amazing year, she was named the "Female Rising Star of the Year" by World Athletics.
World Champion in 2022
In July 2022, Athing competed at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She won the gold medal in the women's 800m race. It was a very close finish! This win made her the first American woman to ever win the 800m world championship title. She also became the youngest woman to hold both Olympic and World titles in a single track event.
Competing in 2023
In 2023, Athing competed in the 1500m race at the USATF Championships and placed second. Later that year, at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, she won a bronze medal in the 800m. In September, she set a new American record in the 800m at the Prefontaine Classic, running it in 1 minute and 54.97 seconds.
Challenges in 2024
After taking a break for nine months, Athing returned to compete in the 2024 United States Olympic trials. Sadly, she tripped and fell during the 800m final. This meant she could not compete to defend her Olympic gold medal from three years before.
Personal Life
Athing Mu got engaged in September 2024. She got married in March 2025 and changed her name to Athing Mu-Nikolayev.
Awards
- World Athletics Awards
- Rising Star (Women): 2021
See also
In Spanish: Athing Mu para niños
