Athing Mu-Nikolayev looks HORRIBLE. Runs 2:03.44 for DFL. Dugume wins in 1:57.20.

Wouldn't be surprised if that's it for her and she just retires.

I was down voted in another thread as picking her time as 2:01. Seems I was being generous. Never looked good. Not in shape. At one stage running in lane 3. Hugely talented but need something? Time off? New coach? Change of career?

She has the talent but really seems to be struggling mentally. I hope she can find her way.

Are you serious? Do you realize how much money she can make if she's on?

That was horrible. Bobby had better turn it around in the next month or she may be looking for a new coach.

She said she loves running. That's the key.

THe thing with the 800 is you normally need A LOT of reps. 1500 fitness and 800 sharpness are not the same. I can't believe i picked her to win this on the podcast.

Full Results
1 ETH DUGUMA Tsige 1:57.10
2 RSA SEKGODISO Prudence 1:57.16 =PB
3 UGA NAKAAYI Halimah 1:57.89 SB
4 FRA BOURGOIN Anaïs 1:58.41
5 VIN MALONEY Shafiqua 1:58.49
6 USA ROGERS Raevyn 1:58.49 SB
7 GBR REEKIE Jemma 1:58.66 =SB
8 ETH MESELE Worknesh 1:59.72
9 KEN MORAA Mary 2:00.51
10 USA MU-NIKOLAYEV Athing 2:03.44

Looked like someone going through the motions to fulfill a lucrative Nike contract.

Was looking forward to a 2025 resurgence from Mu to challenge Hodgkinson and renew what could still be an epic rivalry, then we get that.

shes also not running anything close to a real race scenario

What did you base your picking her to win? Past races? Come on. There was no indication that she was in shape to win this from recent form. It would appear between the coach and the athlete Mu has devolved from a generational talent into an also ran.

Seeing the look on her face in the homestretch was depressing. She needs to leave Kersee immediately.

She's the only athlete that has to do interviews to try to convince the fans that she still cares and that she still loves the sport.

That's why she will never run fast again.

Kersee isn't perfect but nobody can make Mu care about the sport anymore. She is doing the bare minimum to keep her contract. She just doesn't want to run anymore.

World Championships are more than 2 months away.

She has got to move on from Bobby. Surely her workouts supported her running today but clearly her race day state is off. But once your confidence is shot, not sure how you get it back.

I agree with original poster. She's done or very close to it.

Maybe not everyone is just purely motivated by money Rojo. Plus in the last 4 years alone she's probably made as much money as the average American household does in like 35 years - so let's cool this "money is everything" narrative.

She said she loves running? Uh, and? People can and do say anything - especially to fit a narrative they think they need to uphold. Lip service is the easiest thing there is. She looks MISERABLE. She looked miserable at the trials last year, she looked the same today. She just ran 8 seconds and change slower than her PR - an an 800m race?! I think if Nike went to her and said "we will buy out your contract at X%" (that probably goes until 2028) she would take that in a heartbeart and quite happily retire.

I don't know what people think they are seeing out there that would point to anything the contrary?

Nobody believes she really cares about running. She's just saying that to keep her contract.

Bobby should refuse to coach Mu anymore. She's not even trying. He's wasting his time for an athlete that doesn't care anymore.

Her husband works in finance. She’s already made a ton of money. I don’t think money is too much of a factor here

In other news tonight: Moraa OFF THE JUICE!!!

And in those interviews she has to overly express how much she loves and trusts Bobby Kersee. It’s like she’s paid each time she mentions his name and how she trusts his process… it’s truly pathetic. Both of them should be downright embarrassed. He’s ruined her career and she willingly allows it to happen.