Olympic champion Athing Mu surprised fans by competing in the women’s elite 5,000 meters at the 65th Mt. SAC Relays on April 19.
The 800m world record holder shocked fans by attempting a race almost six times longer than her typical distance event.
Though she dropped out after completing a prescribed 3,000 meters in 9:41.75, her bold move signaled a new chapter in her career.
Mu surged to the front early, clocking a swift 36.80-second split for the first 200 meters—a pace unsustainable for a full 5,000 m. She soon settled into a more controlled rhythm, running consistent 76-78-second laps alongside a small pack of competitors.
“The splits were pretty good,” Mu said afterward as quoted by Runnerspace.com.
“We had a really good pacer, and the girls running were strong. It’s more fun to do this in a race than in practice.”
Her 5,000m race was her first since high school cross country days.
Mu’s appearance at Mt. SAC was her first since the dramatic fall at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where a collision ended her hopes of defending her 800-meter title in Paris.
“A lot of downtime for me,” Athing Mu reflected.
“It was nice to get my personal life set up how I wanted without a whole bunch of eyes on me. I love my husband, and my family and I have had a great time together celebrating.”
Rather than chasing immediate greatness, she’s prioritizing enjoyment and gradual progress.
“This pushes me way out of my comfort zone,” she admitted.
“Just coming out here, running, and seeing how far I can take my body in this race is fun—instead of going out and trying to do something spectacular every time I step on the track.”
Mu’s team has emphasized a cautious approach to 2025, prioritizing health and smart racing over immediate results. Her next major goal is returning to Tokyo this September, where she famously won Olympic gold during the 2021 Games.
“We’re really focusing on staying healthy this year,” Mu said.
“Just getting into races to have fun… The trajectory of the year is the same. We’re going to put ourselves in the best places for racing and competing.”
Though her long-term focus is uncertain, she’s open to exploring 1,500-meter races and possibly occasional 5,000-meter events too.