Athing Mu-Nikoleyev’s Flat Return Raises Hard Questions Before U.S. Championships

Athing Mu’s Flat Return Raises Hard Questions Before U.S. Championships

Athing Mu-Nikolayev has never looked ordinary on a track. Even during her early college races, she carried a presence that set her apart. On Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, however, she looked lost. The Olympic gold medalist from 2021, who once made 1:56 races look routine, finished last in the women’s 800m. The clock read 2:03.44.

It was her slowest time since a college heat in February 2021, and while she stayed upright this time, unlike last year’s fall at the Olympic Trials, there was no comfort to take from the result. The 800 meters is unforgiving when you’re out of form. It’s a rhythm event that punishes hesitation and exposes rust. Athing Mu-Nikolayev looked out of sync from the gun. She lagged at the back, drifted wide to avoid contact, and had nothing left with 200m to go.

The performance was troubling not because Athing Mu-Nikoleyev lost. Losses happen. It was how disconnected she looked from the race. The opening 300m saw her settle dead last. By the halfway point, there was a slight attempt to move, but she never cracked the top eight. With 100 meters left, her legs had no response.

Afterward, she said she was healthy. That’s a good sign, but it leaves questions about her readiness with the U.S. Championships less than four weeks away. She will be allowed to compete based on her 1:58 from the 2024 Trials, but at the moment, her chances of making the world championship team feels uncertain. The field in U.S. women’s 800m running has caught up. And in some ways, it has moved ahead.

Nia Akins, Juliette Whittaker, and Allie Wilson, last year’s Olympic team members are all trending in the right direction. Even if none of them have separated themselves as clear title favorites, they’ve competed regularly and looked competitive on the Diamond League circuit. Meanwhile, Mu-Nikoleyev’s 2025 season has consisted of three lower-level overdistance races and this Diamond League opener that looked more like a fitness check than a competitive effort.

The technical flaws in her race were noticeable. Athing Mu-Nikoleyev still runs wide around turns, a habit from the days when she dominated races from the front. That might have worked when she was fitter, but now it only adds unnecessary meters. She also continues to look uncomfortable running in a tight pack. That inability to navigate traffic is a real problem, especially when racing sharp fields in Europe or championship rounds in the U.S.

It’s worth noting that Mu-Nikoleyev is still only 23. Athletes often need more than a season to bounce back from a serious injury. She tore her hamstring last spring and had an uneven buildup to the 2024 Trials, where she still managed to run 1:58. That speaks to the depth of her natural ability. But raw talent can only take a runner so far when preparation is lacking. Saturday showed what happens when the physical tools aren’t backed by sharpness and confidence.

Some of the attention will now turn to her coaching situation. Mu-Nikoleyev is currently training under Bobby Kersee, one of the sport’s most decorated coaches. But Kersee’s approach hasn’t always matched Mu-Nikoleyev’s racing instincts. Since joining his group, Mu’s racing schedule has been minimal, and her public appearances at competitions have become rare. There’s growing conversation around whether a return to Milton Mallard, her former coach who helped guide her to Olympic gold could be the right move. Mallard now coaches at USC, so the logistics would be simple. The decision, however, would carry weight.

Mu-Nikoleyev’s supporters are right to point out that she has time. Twenty-six days remain until the first round of the U.S. Championships. That’s long enough to find a few percentage points of improvement but not long enough to build a season’s worth of race strength. The challenge isn’t whether she can finish races. It’s whether she can go head-to-head with athletes who’ve already spent months sharpening their tactics and toughness.

Saturday’s result shouldn’t define her, but it should serve as a warning. Mu-Nikoleyev will need to decide if this was a blip or a sign of something more structural. Olympic years tend to bring urgency. They don’t wait for athletes to catch up. If Mu-Nikoleyev wants to be on the start line in Paris, she’ll need to show more than flashes of promise.

In her post-race interview, Mu-Nikoleyev stayed upbeat. She smiled, said she was fine, and that she’ll keep building. It was the kind of poise that comes from experience. But experience alone won’t be enough this time.