Athing Mu may skip 2023 World Championships and focus on 2024

This! I always wondering why people keep saying she was modelling? I've yet to see a single campaign with her modelling. Anyone seen any, ever?

Michael Jordan did.

Michael Jordan didn’t play the regular season and abandon his team in the playoffs.

Not exactly like NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL but there are organizations. If drug testers can knock on an athlete's door and demand an immediate p.e.d. test, T&F organizations can require coaches to produce injury reports.

Load management. 😜

the reasoning is weird.

1) its middle distance. you gotta practice racing and tactics. esp. against a runner like Keely.

2) If Mu is suffering from race anxiety, avoiding racing is not the solution. *note idk if i buy this one as Mu has always been a bold racer often leading from the gun.

Anyways, Bob K. has a known history of doping his runners so I don't know why he hasn't been banned from the sport.

Oh just stop. We all have pressure in our lives most of us much more than someone who gets paid to run for a living has. Too many 20 somethings as soon as things get the slightest uncomfortable they fold. As Truman said 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'

As far as the anxiety goes.... Sure, I get that. However, not racing the world champs only builds up the Olympics more. Maybe seek a sports therapist?

It is Mu's life and she can do what she wants; however...

As a fan it is saddening to see someone at the pinnacle of our sport treat it with such apathy.

Is being a professional track and field athlete such an unfulfilling thankless job that the reigning world champion doesn't even care to defend her title???

As a fan of the sport... THANK YOU to all the athletes that show up year after year and compete. THANK YOU to the athletes that might not be in contention for a medal but still show up to push themselves, and their competitors.

You realize all of this is part of the entertainment industry. Running around in a circle doesn’t really have all that much meaning unless people care about it. So yes, fans matter, and they have every right to be disappointed if a major star no shows for no clear reason. Is it the end of the world if she no shows, no, but neither is it a big deal if she were to race and lose.

Imagine you're getting ready to watch the Super Bowl and Patrick Mahomes decides he's going to take the night off. The fans would be pissed, the sponsors would be uber pissed and you know the coaches would be pissed.

But we're in an era where people are getting applauded more for quitting than those rising to the occasion.

Our sport seems doomed.

As someone who doesn't care what she does, the following questions come to mind. First, why float this idea if she was going to run? I'm guessing the decision not to run has already been made.

Second, why has she skipped the entire diamond league season? Does she not need the money? Or is she paid so much that prize money from the DL doesn't matter?

The biggest names in the sport - Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, Richardson etc., have all been racing in Europe all summer. I can't imagine a more enjoyable experience. You get to run a few races in front of packed stadiums and then sight see the greatest cities in Europe.

Well said.

I was totally willing to excuse Mu for starting her season late and sparingly if she competed in the WCs and in the DL final in Eugene. But if she’s done competing this year while supposedly being healthy then I won’t be able to root for her in the future. Especially if she comes back in the Olympic year and is threatening the WR under Kersee’s coaching, it will be suspicious as all hell.

As a track athlete you should a) want to race and b) want to do what’s best for the sport.

Lots of posters saying “this sport is a joke,” but I don’t see Ingebrigtsen, Cheptegei, Lyles, Shericka Jackson, Kipyegon, Warholm etc. pulling this crap—this isn’t a T&F problem, it’s a Kersee problem.

How does she race the DL final with no DL points???

NOBODY is making comments on a message board about your job performance because nobody gives a rat’s azz about how you do so STFU keyboard warrior.

Save for one race, Mu didn’t run the regular season.

How could she be afraid of Moraa? Mu's split low 48 and run 49 mid, a second better than Moraa, AND run 4:03 1500m this year. She need fear no one at the 800m when healthy.

Yeah people forgot how good Athing Mu is. She is fabulous. I did not like her joining Kersee but she is a decorated recently turned 21 year old who is a prodigious talent. If she skips the World Championships it is fine. I hope she does not retire yet but if she does I hope she is making the right decision for her and her family.