Can people stop criticizing Mu who was somehow smart enought and good enough at racing to win the Olympic 800 gold with limited experience? SHe's not "a jittery headcase". SHe's the goddman Olympic champion who has been injured. If she was healthy no way she'd be running in that pack.
Agreed! First time I have ever solidly supported one of your posts. The negative reaction and some posters salivating in joy because they think Mu got her comeuppance is so unhinged.
I actually believe this incident will ultimately help Mu. It offers her and coach an opportunity to reflect on her desire to continue competing and on strategy. It's been 2 years since her last global win and she is young as has time to course correct. Switch coaches, proactively do some therapy to better manage anxiety, face some fears and come out a tactically sharper and more confident athlete. Look at how awesome Noah has managed his issues!
Can people stop criticizing Mu who was somehow smart enought and good enough at racing to win the Olympic 800 gold with limited experience? SHe's not "a jittery headcase". SHe's the goddman Olympic champion who has been injured. If she was healthy no way she'd be running in that pack.
She has a lot of front running experience and she was clearly fitter and fast enough to do it through 2022 WC. She has acknowledged she gets nervous when she's not on the rail. She also acknowledged the pressure of her quick rise weighed on her and that it's so much harder to stay at the top than to get there. So I am not making up concerns about her anxiety. That is apparently why her coach keeps her from racing - to create a safe mental space for her and shield her from dealing with the pressures of racing more than she has to. Similar for Sydney who at least shows up in full blown execution/killer mode when she does race, so this system seems to work for her.
I am allowed to criticize because her lack of tactical experience and focus will probably not only cost the US a sure medal (from her) but also prevented arguably the next best 2 US runners from competing in Paris. Better to be honest and own up to mistakes than to rush to soothe egos which won't help Mu at all.
Even the announcers mentioned the importance of her staying out of traffic due to her long back kick. Its been an issue before. She has legs that are a foot longer than than some of the other girls. I have to believe they had a plan to get to the front sooner?
I have found that runners who have anxiety around racing, do much worse if you shield them from racing. I would hope Kersee knows a lot more than I do, but that never works. Track and field is almost unrecognizable to the average american, im not sure how much "pressure" she had walking around virtually anonymous. But racing and focusing on the joy of the sport is way more effective than feeding anxiety by making racing a big deal and avoiding it.
On the other hand, maybe she was just injured and we are full of dookie I don't know.
And full credit to Nia for going to the front and staying clear of those dangers. She deserved the win 100%.
She didn't go the front. She was to the outside and right behind Mu and had to dodge Rogers falling to the outside. Well deserved win though.
Yes she did after the first lap. Watch the race, she was one of a few who kept more space around her. She was out wide and did not stay on anyone's heel so when the fall happened she was able to easily avoid contact.
So Mu, you don't like running, don't like track... the track god heard you LOUD and clear!
LOL
The sad truth is that the United States is sending a team of mediocrity to the Olympic Games and leaving our star at home, our true chance at a gold medal. It is ridiculous and totally disgusting. Regardless of any personal feeling people have about Mu not competing, she is the reigning gold medalist in this event, and she is not going and we are instead sending people who are not going to be competitive. If those are the rules, they clearly need to be re-evaluated. Our selection system failed. She didn't not make it because she wasn't fast enough. She didn't move in on anyone either. It was a fluke that she fell and she is by far the best person to run the 800 against the current world field. Any other nation has a safeguard not to rule out their best talent. We are sending people who can't compete and leaving our gold medal star at home!!! That is CRAZY!
She has a lot of front running experience and she was clearly fitter and fast enough to do it through 2022 WC. She has acknowledged she gets nervous when she's not on the rail. She also acknowledged the pressure of her quick rise weighed on her and that it's so much harder to stay at the top than to get there. So I am not making up concerns about her anxiety. That is apparently why her coach keeps her from racing - to create a safe mental space for her and shield her from dealing with the pressures of racing more than she has to. Similar for Sydney who at least shows up in full blown execution/killer mode when she does race, so this system seems to work for her.
I am allowed to criticize because her lack of tactical experience and focus will probably not only cost the US a sure medal (from her) but also prevented arguably the next best 2 US runners from competing in Paris. Better to be honest and own up to mistakes than to rush to soothe egos which won't help Mu at all.
Even the announcers mentioned the importance of her staying out of traffic due to her long back kick. Its been an issue before. She has legs that are a foot longer than than some of the other girls. I have to believe they had a plan to get to the front sooner?
I have found that runners who have anxiety around racing, do much worse if you shield them from racing. I would hope Kersee knows a lot more than I do, but that never works. Track and field is almost unrecognizable to the average american, im not sure how much "pressure" she had walking around virtually anonymous. But racing and focusing on the joy of the sport is way more effective than feeding anxiety by making racing a big deal and avoiding it.
On the other hand, maybe she was just injured and we are full of dookie I don't know.
Correct. It's all in her head and I feel bad she's probably been living with a heightened level of anxiety and could have been working on that long ago.
There are 2 safe ways to get to the front in an 800. Sprint so you are ahead at the break, or start slower, run in the back and then use the stretch going into lap 2 to pass everyone. She didn't do either of those.
So Mu, you don't like running, don't like track... the track god heard you LOUD and clear!
LOL
The sad truth is that the United States is sending a team of mediocrity to the Olympic Games and leaving our star at home, our true chance at a gold medal. It is ridiculous and totally disgusting. Regardless of any personal feeling people have about Mu not competing, she is the reigning gold medalist in this event, and she is not going and we are instead sending people who are not going to be competitive. If those are the rules, they clearly need to be re-evaluated. Our selection system failed. She didn't not make it because she wasn't fast enough. She didn't move in on anyone either. It was a fluke that she fell and she is by far the best person to run the 800 against the current world field. Any other nation has a safeguard not to rule out their best talent. We are sending people who can't compete and leaving our gold medal star at home!!! That is CRAZY!
Let us know when you are done pushing victimhood and we can discuss taking ownership.
The sad truth is that the United States is sending a team of mediocrity to the Olympic Games and leaving our star at home, our true chance at a gold medal. It is ridiculous and totally disgusting. Regardless of any personal feeling people have about Mu not competing, she is the reigning gold medalist in this event, and she is not going and we are instead sending people who are not going to be competitive. If those are the rules, they clearly need to be re-evaluated. Our selection system failed. She didn't not make it because she wasn't fast enough. She didn't move in on anyone either. It was a fluke that she fell and she is by far the best person to run the 800 against the current world field. Any other nation has a safeguard not to rule out their best talent. We are sending people who can't compete and leaving our gold medal star at home!!! That is CRAZY!
You are talking about an imaginary Athing Mu in your head. The real Athing Mu we saw on the track was coming in injured, had a chance to control her own destiny, and made mistakes (yes moving in on tripping). 2021 Athing would never have been in that situation. Yes, it sucks for her and USA. But our selection process is based on actual performance when it counts.
The sad truth is that the United States is sending a team of mediocrity to the Olympic Games and leaving our star at home, our true chance at a gold medal. It is ridiculous and totally disgusting. Regardless of any personal feeling people have about Mu not competing, she is the reigning gold medalist in this event, and she is not going and we are instead sending people who are not going to be competitive. If those are the rules, they clearly need to be re-evaluated. Our selection system failed. She didn't not make it because she wasn't fast enough. She didn't move in on anyone either. It was a fluke that she fell and she is by far the best person to run the 800 against the current world field. Any other nation has a safeguard not to rule out their best talent. We are sending people who can't compete and leaving our gold medal star at home!!! That is CRAZY!
The current process, at least ideally, is a microcosm of the American Dream where anyone can persist and rise to the top. This is for the best despite occasional disappointments.
Absolutely not. Yes, the rules allow for a rerun. However, she was drifting over in the lane which resulted in her feet getting tangled up. She bares the brunt of responsibility for the fall. A rerun is a terrible idea and sets terrible precedence for the future.