The US 800m record runner disappoints at the world championship
On the women's 800m final race in Budapest 2023 on August 27, similar to last year, Athing took the lead from the start to the 700-meter mark. But in the last 100 meters, the 21-year-old American runner lost his breath, lost his lead just before the finish line and finished third with his 2023 personal best (SB) - 1 minute 56 seconds 61.
Athing, born in 2002, is an American athletic prodigy. She once set the US indoor 600m record in 2019 at the age of 16, with 1 minute 23 seconds 57, and set the world under-20 record in the 800m indoor distance in early 2021 with 1 minute 58 seconds 40.
At Tokyo 2021, Athing won the 800m gold medal with 1 minute 55 seconds 21, breaking the national record of 1 minute 55 seconds 61 set by teammate Ajee Wilson at Diamond League Monaco 2017. After that, Athing won another gold medal in the next content. women's 4x400m strength.
At the 2022 Eugene World Athletics Championships, Athing continued to make history when she won the gold medal with 1 minute 56 seconds 30, thereby becoming the first American female athlete to win the world championship title at this distance.
Therefore, Athing did not hide his disappointment when he only received a silver medal in Budapest this year. But she half-jokingly said that this shows a steady performance and aims to win gold in the next tournament.
England's Keely Hodgkinson won silver with 1 minute 56 seconds 34, while Mary Moraa of Kenya surprised by taking gold with PB with 1 minute 56 seconds 3. She jumped into the air and punched the air as she crossed the finish line. to celebrate the first world title. At Eugene 2022, Moraa won bronze with 1 minute 56 seconds 71, behind Hodgkinson and Athing themselves.
"I was surprised too. I didn't expect to win the gold medal," Moraa told the media, and danced to celebrate the victory. "I don't know what happened in that race. I just found myself jumping over the finish line first and was very happy."
In the women's 3,000m hurdles event, Bahraini Kenyan Winfred Mutile Yavi won gold with 8 minutes 54 seconds 29. Kenyan duo Beatrice Chepkoech won silver with 8 minutes 58 seconds and Faith followed. Cherotich won bronze with 9 minutes 69.
