History of Athing Mu in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 2, 2025

Athing Mu is a highly accomplished American middle-distance runner, notably the youngest woman to simultaneously hold Olympic and world titles in an individual track event. At 19, she secured a gold medal in the 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, setting both a national record and a continental under-20 record. Mu also earned a second gold in the 4 × 400 m relay. In 2022, she became the 800 m World Champion, marking the first time an American woman has won this title.

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Full Timeline

1964: Wyomia Tyus Earned 100m Title

In 1964, Wyomia Tyus earned the 100m title at the Tokyo Games, making her the youngest U.S. woman to win an individual Olympic track and field title until Athing Mu's win in 2020.

1968: Madeline Manning's Olympic Win

In 1968, Madeline Manning won the 800m at the Mexico Olympics. This was the last time an American woman won the event until Athing Mu's win in 2020.

1972: Dave Wottle's Olympic win

In 1972, Dave Wottle had the last Olympic 800m male win before Athing Mu's win in 2020.

June 8, 2002: Athing Mu's Birth

On June 8, 2002, Athing Mu was born. She is an American middle-distance runner known for her achievements in track and field.

Others born on this day/year

2017: National Record

In 2017, Ajeé Wilson set the national record in the 800 meters, which Athing Mu would later break in 2020.

February 24, 2019: American Record at USA Indoor Track and Field Championships

On February 24, 2019, Athing Mu broke the American women's record in the 600 meter event at the 2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 1:23.57.

September 2019: End of Outdoor Win Streak

September 2019 marks the last time that Athing Mu lost an outdoor race in any round, at any distance, until July 2022.

2019: World U20 Best

In 2019, at age 16, Athing Mu set the world U20 best in the indoor 600 meters.

2020: Graduation from High School

In 2020, Athing Mu graduated from Trenton Central High School.

2020: Qualified for Tokyo Olympics

In 2020, Athing Mu qualified for the delayed Tokyo Olympics at the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, placing first with a time of 1:56.07.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Gold Medals

In 2020, at the age of 19, Athing Mu won a gold medal in the 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, setting a national record. She also won a second gold medal as part of the women's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

June 12, 2021: 2021 NCAA Championships

On June 12, 2021, at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Athing Mu lowered her collegiate all-time record to 49.57 seconds in the 400m and anchored the Texas A&M Women's 4 × 400 m relay to victory with a new collegiate record of 3:22.34.

2021: World Under-20 Record

In early 2021, Athing Mu set the world under-20 record in the women's indoor 800 m.

2022: World Champion

In 2022, Athing Mu became the 800 m World Champion, making her the first American woman to win the world championship title in that distance.

2023: 2023 Season

In 2023, Athing Mu placed second in the 1500m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, automatically qualifying for the world championships in the 800m, where she placed third. In September of 2023, at the Prefontaine Classic, she won the Diamond League final setting an American Record.

2024: 2024 Olympic Trials

In 2024, at the United States Olympic trials, Athing Mu tripped and fell during the 800m final, finishing in last place and failing to qualify to defend her Olympic gold.