Tokyo Olympics 2021: Athing Mu wins gold in women’s 800-meter race, sets american record in 1:55.21

Kobe Bryant begat the term “Mamba Mentality.” In track and field, “Medal Mentality” seems like a greater amount of a proper term. It’s an phrase Athing Mu said she considered at the Tokyo Olympics. Following her performance in the ladies’ 800 meters, she should get it trademarked.

The 19-year-old prodigy led for the whole race and won in 1:55.21 to establish an American record.

“Coming here, I came with a medal mentality,” Mu said. “I came here wanting a medal.”

Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain ran in 1:55.88 to put second, and American Raevyn Rogers balanced the main three, completing in 1:56.81.

However, the race was never in doubt.

On the greatest phase of her track career, Mu was cool and quiet during two laps around the track at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium – which is fitting since that is by and large her personality.

Mu’s attitude subsequent to winning the gold decoration was estimated. The center distance sprinter expected to dominate the race. She even had a barrette in her hair that she bought from Nordstrom that showed the words “certain.”

“I’m feeling awesome. I’m satisfied with it. I’m glad I came out here and did what I had to do, to accomplish my goal. It was definitely a goal of mine to be a gold medalist,” Mu said. “I knew it was possible, so I’m not super shook or shocked or anything. I’m just happy I been running the same way as I been running the whole year.”

Mu’s Olympic gold is the crowning achievement in what was a breakout, extraordinary track season for the result of Trenton, New Jersey. She broke the university 400-and 800-meter records as a rookie at Texas A&M, turned genius at U.S. preliminaries and won the 800 meters and followed that up with a dominant gold-medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics.

The center distance sprinter’s most recent accomplishment put her in exclusive company. Mu joined Madeline Manning-Mims as the lone American ladies to win Olympic gold in the 800 meters. Monitoring Mims accomplished the feat 53 years prior at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

In spite of her quiet and chill character, her partners wonder about her capacity.

“She’s incredible. She has so much grace, so much poise and so much composure at such a young age,” U.S. sprinter Gabby Thomas said. “She’s an inspiration to me.”

Mu’s Olympic partners have been able to know her in Tokyo. However, the easygoing avid supporter probably won’t think a lot about her, even in the wake of cruising to an Olympic gold medal. When ask what she needs individuals to think about her, Mu answered with an answer that consummately represents her certain self. She need’s kin to become more acquainted with her since her time is presently.

“This isn’t the last time you’re gonna see me run. This is just the beginning. There is more,” Mu said. “One thing I will say for those people who are watching me for the first time, even for people who have been watching me for the last couple years, my time is now,” Mu said. “Six years from now, two years from now, it’s gonna be my time. I’m gonna do whatever I can in my time no matter what age I am. … I’m gonna do whatever I can to be great.”

The 800-meter world record of 1:53.28 held by Russian Jarmila Kratochvílová that is remained since 1983 may be broken in Mu’s time.