Athing Mu is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in 400 m and 800 m races. She is the youngest woman ever to own the World and Olympic titles in a single track and field event.
Athing broke a national record, continental under-20 record and won Gold medal in 800 m in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at only 19 years of age. She won another Gold medal in the women’s 4X400 m relay.
The multiple record holder is also the first American woman to win the World Championship in 800 m. She is the world record holder in under-20 women’s indoor 800 m, set in 2021 while aged 18 years. Mu also holds the world indoor 600 m under-20 best record, set in 2019 while she was only 16 years old. She clocked the third fastest time ever run indoors.
In 2021, Athing was voted the World Athletics Female Rising Star of the Year. This is after immerging victorious in 35 out of 36 races she competed inside that year.
Age and Birthday
Mu was born on 8 June 2002 in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. She is 22 years old as of 2024.
Height
The star athlete is 178 cm (5 feet 10 inches) tall.
Athing Mu Family
The multi-record holder is the sixth born in a seven-sibling family of Deng Lemon and Aluel Majok. Her family has South Sudanese descent with her parents having immigrated to the United States from South Sudan.
Athing Mu Boyfriend
Mu is currently in a relationship with her boyfriend, Brandon Miller who is an American athlete.
Athing Mu Career
Youth level
600 m indoor record
Mu started competing on the track in 2008 at an early age of 6 years. She later joined Trenton Track Club. In February 2019, at the 2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, she broke the American women’s record at 600 m with a time of 1:23.57. This was 0.02 seconds faster than the previous record.
World U20 and Collegiate records
On 27 February 2021, Athing set an indoor world under-20 and collegiate record in 800 m at 1:58.40. On April 17 in Texas, while running outdoor, she set a US collegiate record of 1:57.73 in 800 m. During the 2021 NCAA Championships held in June 2021 at Eugene she clocked 49.57 s consequently lowering her collegiate all-time record in 400 m. Later in the day, she played a major role as the Texas A&M women’s 4X400 m team won the event and set a new collegiate record of 3:22.34.
Senior level
2020 Tokyo Olympics
At the US Olympics trials held in Eugene, the American rising star qualified for the delayed Tokyo Olympics. This was after finishing first in 800 m event with a time of 1:56.07. This being a world leading time and the second best in American history.
Mu would win two Olympic Gold medals in Tokyo in the women’s 800m and the 4X400 m relay events. She shocked the world when she led from gun to tape to break the American women’s 800 m record with 1:55.21 on the clock. She consequently became the first American woman to win gold in the event since Madeline Manning at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Athing was as well the first American 800 m Olympic gold medalist since Dave Wottle at the 1972 Munich Olympics. She also became the youngest American woman to win individual track and field Olympic title since Wyomia Tyus (100 m) in 1964 Tokyo Games.
World Athletics Female Rising Star of the Year 2021
At the Prefontaine Classic, Mu improved her American 800 m record to 55.04. This made her the second fastest under-20 woman behind Pamela Jelimo and number eight on the world all-time list.
Her superb performance in throughout the season saw her win 35 out of 36 races she competed. She was voted the World Athletics Female Rising Star of the Year 2021.
2022 World Championships
At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene on July 2022, Mu took gold after clocking a world-leading time of 1:56.30. She narrowly beat Keely Hodgkinson by 0.08 seconds with Mary Moraa following in third.
Athing made history by becoming the first American woman to win the 800 m World Championship title and the youngest woman to hold the Olympic and World titles in an individual track and field event. She as well prolonged her outdoor winning streak to about three years since she had not lost in any outdoor race since 2019.
2023 World Championships
At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest on August 2023, Athing only managed a third position finish behind Moraa and Hodgkinson who won Gold and Silver respectively.
Athing Mu Achievements and Medals
Achievements
Personal bests: 800 m- 1:54.97 National Record (2023), 800 m indoors- 1:58.40 World Junior Record (2021), 400 m- 49.57 (2021), 400 m indoors- 50.52 (2021).
Awards
World Athletics Female Rising Star of the Year: 2021
Medals
- World Championships: Gold 800m (Eugene 2022), Bronze 800 m (Budapest 2023)
- Olympics: Gold 800 m and Gold 4X400 m (Tokyo 2022)
- Youth Olympics: Silver 800 m (Buenos Aires 2018)
- Pan American U20 Championships: 800 m (San Jose 2019)
Athing Mu Net Worth
The talented athlete as an estimated net worth of $3.5 million as of 2024. Her major source of income are athletics and endorsements.