Athing Mu, the American sprinter who dazzled with gold in both the 800 meters and the 4×400 meter relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, faced a challenging season. She missed the chance to defend her 800m title at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a fall during the U.S. Olympic trials—a tough break for such a talented athlete! The mishap occurred when Mu got caught amid the pack and tangled up with other racers. Even though she dusted herself off and kept running, the damage was done, leaving her too far behind to salvage her race.
!
The 2022 world champion managed to get back on her feet and cross the finish line but was a staggering 22 seconds behind the winner, Nia Akins, who clocked an impressive 1 minute, 57.36 seconds. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mu choked back tears as she made a swift exit from the track, disappearing into the tunnel without speaking to the press. Her team filed an appeal, hoping for a second chance, but it was turned down.
But fate had a different script for her. Amid the heartbreak of the season and the disappointment of missing the Paris Olympics, Athing Mu discovered a twist of fortune. On September 8, she shared joyful news on Instagram—she’s engaged! Despite the trials, Athing Mu ended her season beaming with happiness after her fiancé, whose identity remains a mystery, popped the question.
Article continues below this ad
View this post on Instagram
Athing Mu shared a heartwarming montage of five adorable photos, including one where her fiancé is down on one knee and another of them sharing a heartfelt hug. One photo shows Athing Mu proudly displaying her new ring, while another captures the couple happily strolling through a picturesque landscape. She captioned the post, “In a year full of noes, Jesus has blessed me with a YES! 🤍”
The post quickly went viral, with fans, athletes, and celebrities flooding the comments with congratulations and well wishes for the happy couple.
Athletes and celebrities celebrate Athing Mu’s big news
Among the flood of congratulatory messages, English athlete Keely Hodgkinson also joined in the celebration, dropping a heartfelt comment: “Omg! Congratulations 💕” Despite being old rivals in the 800 meters, Mu and Hodgkinson share a supportive bond, with no bad blood between them. As Mu once said, “I think we’re going to push each other,” highlighting their mutual respect and encouragement.
American Paralympic star Hunter Woodhall joined the congratulatory wave, commenting with heartfelt enthusiasm and congratulating Athing Mu: “Wow so unbelievably happy for both of you! Congratulations.” Woodhall, who dazzled at the Paris Paralympics and snagged the gold medal in the 400m T62, shared in the joy of the couple’s big news.
As the flood of congratulations kept coming in for Athing Mu, American sprinter Justin Gatlin jumped in with a celebratory “Congratulations 🍾🎊🎉” while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone kept it sweet with a trio of heartfelt emojis “🥹🥹🥹” McLaughlin-Levrone, the American hurdler known for her own standout performances, mirrored Athing Mu’s surprise announcement as she revealed her plans to run the 200m and 400m at the Diamond League final.
As heartfelt messages like “GIRL😭💕So happy for you ❤️” keep pouring in, we’re excited to hear your thoughts on the newly engaged couple. How do you think Athing Mu’s “season of yes” is shaping up after her Paris Olympic setback? Share your perspective on this new chapter in her life, where a bit of joy shines through the challenges.
Eva Aggarwal 73 Articles One Take at a Time
Eva Aggarwal is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports. The track and field athlete herself, Eva brings a unique perspective to her written content when she covers various avenues of athletics. Being a National level Shot-put player and Black-Stripe Taekwondo artist, Eva adds a storytelling aspect to her coverage all while donning her sporting lens.