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Athing Mu’s unfortunate fall at the US Olympics trials has brought into focus the cruel nature of America’s selection criteria, showing why it could be good to go the Kenyan way.
The US Olympic trials continued to much fanfare and amid the jubilation and tears of joy, there was also disappointment and tears of sorrow.
This is because a number of athletes are set to miss out either because they failed to make it into the top three in the final or had misfortunes befall them when it mattered most.
Among them is Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu who fell just a few minutes to the finish line in the final and while she got up and finished the race, she was placed last and missed out on a ticket to defend her title.
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08:00 - 26.06.2024
End of the road for Athing Mu's Olympic title defense as track officials denied her appeal
Athing Mu will not defend her Olympic title after the USA track and field officials denied her appeal.
Mu was in tears following her ordeal and efforts to save her fell on deaf ears as her appeal was dismissed.
Also missing out is Brooke Andersen, the 2022 hammer throw champion, and Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, the reigning women’s discuss world champion.
Tausaga-Collins had throws that missed the legal targeted area by a wide margin while Andersen fouled in the final round and despite her top ranking, she will not be in Paris.
![How Athing Mu's dream to defend Olympic 800m title took a tumble [WATCH]](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25062024/18a5dd1b-f2b6-4cb8-bf28-1ce8424bf27b.jpg?operations=fit(:350))
10:40 - 25.06.2024
How Athing Mu's dream to defend Olympic 800m title took a tumble [WATCH]
Dreams of defending her Olympic title were shattered when Athing Mu tripped during the trials, drastically ending her 800m race ambitions.
All these are victims of the cruel nature of the US Olympics trials where only the top three get a ticket to the Games.
This is informed by the fact that America has an embarrassment of riches in track and field and it is hard when up to 12 athletes in one race have attained the Olympics qualifying standards while there could be up to four more eligible via the World Athletics rankings.
However, as witnessed with Mu, the system is also proving costly for Team USA somewhat as it leaves out the best runners and take those lucky to profit from a misfortune to the Olympics who might struggle to win medals or even reach the finals.
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18:00 - 29.06.2024
5 athletes who will not defend their Olympics titles in Paris, including a Kenyan
As the Paris Olympics fast approach, there will be a number of track and field events that will have new champions after the holders missed tickets to defend their titles.
Effectively, America is losing medals in June when the Olympics will take place between July and August.
The selection criteria has been criticised by some while others accept it, albeit, reluctantly.
“Another indication that regardless of how good we are, we can leave some better athletes home than other countries have. It’s part of our American way,” said Mu’s coach Bobby Kersee, who is among those who reluctantly support the selection method.
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11:30 - 25.06.2024
Christian Coleman and the five biggest losers from weekend USTAF Olympic trials
Christian Coleman and Athing Mu are among the five biggest losers from last weekend's USTAF Olympic trials.
US sprint legend Michael Johnson, however, fully supports the approach.
“I think we all feel terrible for Athing. Our US Trials selection policy works best because it eliminates politics in selection. And the strength and depth of the US team allows such a policy,” Johnson wrote on X following Mu’s misfortune.
Well, the politics Johnson is talking about is akin to the selection policy embraced by Athletics Kenya where during the trials, the first two across the line sealed their Olympics ticket while the third athlete was chosen by a panel of selectors.
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21:13 - 24.06.2024
Kenny Bednarek opens up on how Sha'Carri Richardson & Co motivated him to qualify for Olympics
Kenny Bednarek has admitted that watching Sha'Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, and Twanisha Terry qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics motivated him to dig deep for a podium finish in the men's 100m final.
While it is prone to politics and questions as to how the third athlete was chosen, it eliminates a scenario where a top athlete misses out on the team due to an unfortunate incident or sickness just before or during the trials.
It would be hard to imagine Faith Kipyegon missing the Olympics if she tripped and fell or pulled a hamstring in the final.
Even with the rich athletics talent that Kenya has, Kipyegon is sort of a ‘sure bet’ for a medal at the Olympics and missing her would be catastrophic.
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23:21 - 24.06.2024
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Legendary American track icon revealed that sprinters run fastest when they're not afraid of the consequences of losing.
While there could be equally good athletes in the lineup, having the medal prospects is always important which is why Athletics Kenya reserves the third slot to avoid situations where the best misses out due to various circumstances.
For Team USA, Mu, the Olympic and 2022 world champion, who won bronze at last year’s Worlds, before claiming the Diamond League Trophy, will not be in Paris.
Such is life, but from the unfortunate incident, maybe America may need to learn a thing or two from Kenya.
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