Its pretty clear at this point she doesn't like running and she definitely does not like racing. I would be shocked if she was still competing after Paris.
Can't even lump Sydney in with her anymore, at least there is no doubt Sydney will show up and compete at Worlds.
Used to be a big fan of hers but no more. Sick of this crap. Will NEVER cheer for her again in fact will pull for every other 800m in the world except her.
There is a possibility this is a Simone Biles type deal and that the proper response is compassion. Let us not tear her down at this juncture. She is a champion.
I imagine she has either just lost interest in the sport and is continuing because she thinks that she is expected to and doesn't want to let people down, or she has put crazy pressure on herself to keep her unbeaten streak alive and is terrified of losing and letting people down. Being too good at such a young age can be hard to deal with.
Why the heck will you not run if you are healthy???
She obviously doesn't enjoy racing. Feels too much pressure, maybe?
If Athing would come forward and say that she is feeling immense pressure for little gain from racing this season and wants to take a mental break before a challenging Olympic buildup, I think myself and other fans of hers would understand (while still being disappointed). What is frustrating and bordering on suspicious at this point is that there is no explanation from her or Kersee. It's also a big change from how she found success in high school and college because I recall her racing pretty regularly until worlds last season.
if she doesn't race I'll still support her cause she is one of the best to do it but if she skips worlds willingly, and not due to injury, there is going to be a lot of justified criticism coming her way.
Used to be a big fan of hers but no more. Sick of this crap. Will NEVER cheer for her again in fact will pull for every other 800m in the world except her.
There is a possibility this is a Simone Biles type deal and that the proper response is compassion. Let us not tear her down at this juncture. She is a champion.
There was an obvious solution to that: go to Budapest in the 1500m only and have some high level fun without any expectation of winning.
Athing Mu is healthy and training right now but will not run the 400 as scheduled at the Ed Murphey Classic on Friday and may not race for the rest of the year.
“It’s in our control if we decide we’re just going to go ahead and train through this year and focus on next year, then that’s what we’re going to do,” Bobby Kersee said. “The training is going well but our thought process, openly, is that we’re going to just train here in L.A. for the next two weeks and the next time she gets on the plane it’ll either be on vacation or to Budapest.”
Mu has only raced at two meets this year and said after Worlds last year that she felt no need to rush back into competition as she adjusted to Kersee's training. It's also clear that she's interested in things off the track, such as modeling, but it would be huge news if she skips the Worlds entirely.
There is a possibility this is a Simone Biles type deal and that the proper response is compassion. Let us not tear her down at this juncture. She is a champion.
There was an obvious solution to that: go to Budapest in the 1500m only and have some high level fun without any expectation of winning.
Do you know what mental health struggles are like? IF that is what is going on (I do not know) then your suggestion seems potentially naive, no offense intended.
agreed I hope she isn't struggling mentally but if so, totally understandable why she wouldn't want to race and instead prioritize getting right for next year. I don't have depression or anxiety but people I have known who have that say that when its at its worst, you don't want to do anything; not even leave the house. I don't think she would want to race at all if she is not mentally there. With that being said, Kersee said that training is going rlly well so idk if its something mentally holding her back from competing.
I just looked up the salary/endorsement potential for top models. Wow!
It seems to me that she has decided, correctly, that almost no one cares about the World Championships. However, with another Olympic Gold plus some modeling practice, she could be set for life and not have to put in the brutal workouts necessary to train for the 400 and the 800m.
I mean, it's not good for track, but some people just don't have the urge to compete that most of us have... or she just burned out from the joy of racing after the Olympics.
Almost none of you have the mental equipment to be a World and Olympic champion and yet you are know it alls who criticize someone who has shown that she does have the requisite mental equipment. She has done what few American women have ever done and yet she gets scathing criticism. Most of you sit and type this criticism but if you were in the arena you wouldn’t even be noticed. She is a star and she does not deserve this criticism. As far as her coach that is another deal.
I'd say hold off on assuming/tossing out reasons for now. Assumptions were made about Tori Bowie and came out to be wrong later. Best thing to do is wish her the best and wait for more information that'll hopefully be forthcoming.