Defending Olympic 800m gold medallist Athing Mu slipped and fell during trials on Monday, ending her bid to make the US team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The shocking turn of events for Mu, the 2023 world championship bronze medalist, showed just how difficult it is to make it onto America's top track and field Olympic team.
Nia Akins, Ellie Wilson and Juliet Whittaker finished 1-2-3 and are all competing in their first Olympic Games.
The accident occurred during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon, just moments after the final race to determine who would board the plane to Paris.
“It doesn't matter who you are. You're guaranteed drama. This is the toughest team in the world,” Ato Boldon told NBC Olympics in a pre-trials roundtable.
Earlier in the year, Mu missed two tournaments with a strained hamstring.
Nevertheless, many expected her to compete in Paris.
“It's tough to watch, especially for someone like Athing, who you know can win a gold medal,” 400-meter hurdler Rae Benjamin said from the sideline Monday. “And you just — you feel for her, because it's like, she should be there, you know? But that's just USA Track & Field. Like, this is the toughest team, and anything can happen here.”
At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Mu earned gold medals in the 800 meters and 4×400 meters relay.