But what a trivial and nonsensical thing to comment on. Who cares what her expression is. She's running. Again, why the desperation in trying to find any little thing to pull her down on. She's free to have her face in whatever way she chooses. Who are you to determine what someone's facial expression should be from moment to moment. Seriously, why is it that you feel you need to control her. What is it that you want to control really ?
It isn't about control. Trump pulled a face in his mugshot; no one seems to seek to "control" his choice in doing that but they are free to form a view of his personality and character by how he so presents himself. They do the same with Mu - or anyone. You, too, will be perceived - maybe judged - by others according to how you present yourself. This is pretty basic stuff but clearly beyond some.
The context surrounding Trump warrants criticism and analysis of his personality, behaviour, expressions but not of Mu--sport--especially when considering the type of treatment she has received on these message boards.
Since moving to Los Angeles she has lost some of her mojo not too mention picking up some of the Hollywood mentality which isn’t so appealing.
I’ll be rooting for Nia, Raevyn, and Keely. There is a good chance Mary might win. I expect Athing to win just because she is exceptionally talented, but unfortunately she seems not to embrace her God-given gift and find joy in this. Losing is sometimes the best result to realign one’s false motivations.
It isn't about control. Trump pulled a face in his mugshot; no one seems to seek to "control" his choice in doing that but they are free to form a view of his personality and character by how he so presents himself. They do the same with Mu - or anyone. You, too, will be perceived - maybe judged - by others according to how you present yourself. This is pretty basic stuff but clearly beyond some.
The context surrounding Trump warrants criticism and analysis of his personality, behaviour, expressions but not of Mu--sport--especially when considering the type of treatment she has received on these message boards.
I simply used Trump as an example of how a person presents themselves will shape perceptions. The similarity ends there.
my thing is why the hell do yall care so much abt athing. threads on her r inevitable but there are so many other athletes yg could be talking abt than athing walking off the track
We're talking about the Olympic champion that many here predicted would beat Kratochvilova's 40 year old world mark.
BS. You're failing. You're trying to carry a narrative but it's not working. Who are you trying to fool. We who have watched athletics all our lives know that's not always the case. Even when I competed people had to go off for treatment, to get ready for the next round, to see to a potential injury, to have an interview, to get water, to check their family in the crowd,...etc. Somtimes you're just plain tired and want to sit on the track. When you lie you limit yourself to a extremely limited version of reality and its very difficult for that to hold up against a small bit of analysis.
And it's not like she does go through the performative BS. Yet again some of the * on these boards just sit there waiting to jump on any opportunity to form new or extent existing negative narratives about her. It's bullying.
Keep on trying to shore up your narrative but the cracks will increase.
Who are you to determine and define what manners are and when and if they should apply ? And whose meaning should be drawn from that ?
If she wasn't apparently disregarding of basic standards of sportsmanship exercised by most other athletes - or even showing she's glad to be there and competing - there wouldn't be a thread on the subject.
Who has, how has whatever it is you are defining, been determined as a 'basic standard of sportsmanship' ? Why should it, as you've defined it, apply and who are you for it to apply ?
It is not mandatory, it is not law to behave in a certain way after a race. It is not something you must do. Why do I have to explain this ? And it is not as if she does this all of the time. No athlete has 100% of the time performed all of the niceties at the end of the 100's of races through their 18 year career. We're not robots. There is a context, nuances, complexities and circumstances surround each race there has and ever will be.
She herself didn't physically get on a computer and create this topic on this message board.
No it's about opportunistically removing and destroying harmonious elements of authentic context, that are truth and reality, and reconstituting them for an interpretion and narrative that serves your political, emotional and egotistical survival (scientific lying).
You are very good at describing your own approach. It isn't mine or anyone else's here.
Why would you have such specific desire for her behaviour on a hyperthetical outcome ? Again, the fabrication of a narrative. A new one. What in the present do you feel so threatened and terrified by that you seek to do such a thing as manipulate reality ?
You really have no idea that you're only speaking about yourself when you write in that way. (And it's "hypothetical". If you're going to be superior you at least need to get your act straight).
This thread is ridiculous. We have a bunch of "psychologists" trying to dissect Mu's actions. I don't know her and neither does anyone posting here. She's been a great talent, great ambassador for the sport and everyone trying to criticize her for things they know nothing about is just verbal diarrhea.
She isn't a great ambassador for the sport, she had the potential to be a great ambassador for the sport. Like others have said, she was probably one of the most universally liked personalities in track, even here which is the only place on the internet where fans deeply discuss running. Some diehard fans are unrealistically demanding and can be nasty--but the analysis here convincingly argues that her sponsors might have forced her to attend worlds. Her conduct so far is not becoming of an ambassador, and I'm aligned with the point raised on the Supporter's Club podcast today: it isn't acceptable for an athlete donning the USA uniform to skip the cringy Lewis Johnson interview. Ambassadors for real sports show basic respect to the media and engage with the sport at a fundamental level.
The one thing I do know is that people are sick of the elite-athlete-has-mental-health-issue story arc. Regular people follow sports to disengage with the unexciting, difficult, and dour parts of REAL LIFE and live through the performances, win or lose! The recent addition of this dimension where every interview contains versions of the words "anxious" or "depressed" runs afoul of the essence of sport. So, because it's starting to feel like we're just being set up for a story arc where Athing Mu does something outrageous because she'd rather be a full-time model, I think it's justified that diehard fans here want to preempt that and say--just be a full-time model and stop making yourself unhappy with this sport.
Where's the analysis ? Why isn't it accepting to skip the Lewis Johnson interview ?
In your second paragraph it seems like you're thinking of her as an object, like a circus lion that only exists and is "living" when it performs at a circus for entertainment rather than a complex human being, ever changing, that is not controlled and is free do do what she wants when and if she wants. Where's the empathy ?
She isn't a great ambassador for the sport, she had the potential to be a great ambassador for the sport. Like others have said, she was probably one of the most universally liked personalities in track, even here which is the only place on the internet where fans deeply discuss running. Some diehard fans are unrealistically demanding and can be nasty--but the analysis here convincingly argues that her sponsors might have forced her to attend worlds. Her conduct so far is not becoming of an ambassador, and I'm aligned with the point raised on the Supporter's Club podcast today: it isn't acceptable for an athlete donning the USA uniform to skip the cringy Lewis Johnson interview. Ambassadors for real sports show basic respect to the media and engage with the sport at a fundamental level.
The one thing I do know is that people are sick of the elite-athlete-has-mental-health-issue story arc. Regular people follow sports to disengage with the unexciting, difficult, and dour parts of REAL LIFE and live through the performances, win or lose! The recent addition of this dimension where every interview contains versions of the words "anxious" or "depressed" runs afoul of the essence of sport. So, because it's starting to feel like we're just being set up for a story arc where Athing Mu does something outrageous because she'd rather be a full-time model, I think it's justified that diehard fans here want to preempt that and say--just be a full-time model and stop making yourself unhappy with this sport.
Where's the analysis ? Why isn't it accepting to skip the Lewis Johnson interview ?
In your second paragraph it seems like you're thinking of her as an object, like a circus lion that only exists and is "living" when it performs at a circus for entertainment rather than a complex human being, ever changing, that is not controlled and is free do do what she wants when and if she wants. Where's the empathy ?
Did you watch the race that spawned this thread? She looks miserable at the start line yet during the whole race the NBC crew is gushing over her. She runs a fine first 300 since going out with Moraa would have been dumb, but then misses a cue to move up, runs wide on the curve, gets tripped (which is now a meme), and has to run a heroic last 300 to qualify. Incredibly exciting race--the spotlight is on. She looks miserable upon finishing, and runs away, up the stairs, and skips what would have been a cakewalk interview. You don't skip the Lewis Johnson interview if you care about building an audience in the sport.
When someone makes money largely based on their entertainment/media value, that person is an entertainer. In sports, performances (and performing) go hand in hand with maintaining your value. She isn't an amateur athlete earning a poverty stipend, she's a titan in this sport. If she disrespects the sport and doesn't show up at the biggest stage and begins to lose fan support even amongst casuals, she'll make less money! To that extent, she *is* controlled by her contractual obligations and *is not* "free to do what she wants when and if she wants." Nike isn't going to subsidize insolence and serious fans don't have much remaining empathy based on how this season has gone.
You really have no idea that you're only speaking about yourself when you write in that way. (And it's "hypothetical". If you're going to be superior you at least need to get your act straight).
If she wasn't apparently disregarding of basic standards of sportsmanship exercised by most other athletes - or even showing she's glad to be there and competing - there wouldn't be a thread on the subject.
Who has, how has whatever it is you are defining, been determined as a 'basic standard of sportsmanship' ? Why should it, as you've defined it, apply and who are you for it to apply ?
It is not mandatory, it is not law to behave in a certain way after a race. It is not something you must do. Why do I have to explain this ? And it is not as if she does this all of the time. No athlete has 100% of the time performed all of the niceties at the end of the 100's of races through their 18 year career. We're not robots. There is a context, nuances, complexities and circumstances surround each race there has and ever will be.
She herself didn't physically get on a computer and create this topic on this message board.
Sportsmanship isn't law. By definition it is only a code of behaviour. That you make these irrelevant points shows you don't know what it is. You debate what you don't understand.
I'm not sure why Mu thought that her Nike contract gave her the option to skip the most important meet of the year.
You have absolutely no clue what Athing Mu thought or thinks. Just go watch the meet on tV with all your other old geezer friends and enjoy (or not) in silence.
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