American teen Athing Mu wins gold medal in 800m category

Athing Mu of the United States won the gold medal in the Olympic women’s 800 meters final on Tuesday and became the first American woman to do so since 1968. Her compatriot Raevyn Rogers bagged the bronze medal.

Keely Hodgkinson of Britain took silver.

Leading almost from the start, Mu dominated the race and crossed the line clear of her rivals in a time of 1:55.21, to secure the U.S. a moment gold within the occasion after Madeline Manning’s triumph in 1968.

The absence of South Africa’s twofold winner Caster Semenya, ruled ineligible due to increased testosterone levels, opened up the field to a modern victor and the 19-year-old Mu took full advantage.

Mu, whose parents moved to the U.S. from Sudan two decades prior, said it was “great” that she won gold at such a young age.

“I wasn’t truly putting gold on that, but because it got closer to the ultimate nowadays, I was like, ‘Yeah, we need gold’,” the 19-year-old said.

Mu said getting ahead rapidly was a portion of her strategy.

“I wanted to go early from the front and not let anyone mess up my race plan. I just wanted to do my own thing,” she said.

Mu’s time was an American national record.

“I knew it was pretty close but to do that again feels amazing,” she said.

On the side of the bronze for Rogers, who posted an individual best of 1:56.81, the combine got to be the primary U.S. medallists within the occasion since 1988.

Britain’s Hodgkinson ran a brilliant moment half of the race to gain silver and after the race, she was also energized around two teenagers winning medals at the grandest arrange.

“There’s not just one 19-year-old in the race, there is two…which is unbelievable. Hopefully, it stems from a good competitive 10-15 years ahead and faster times on the horizon,” she said.

The 19-year-old broke 2004 Olympic champion Kelly Holmes’s British national record with a time of 1:55.88.

“Kelly is a massive legend of the sport and she always will be with that double Olympic gold. She sent us all a few messages in the last couple of days”, she told reporters. “I am quite a in shock about that time.”

Asked how she would celebrate, Hodgkinson said; “You’ll capture me within the bar. One guilt-free night out some time recently I wrap up the rest of the season and after that low season in September.”

“I think it’s settling in. Just being able to take something back home, I’m really proud,” she said.

Rogers dedicated the medal to her mother who is also celebrating her birthday nowadays.

“It’s morning time in America, so she’s going to have this whole day to celebrate. I’m just really happy. I just want to make them proud,” she said.

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Visit also: Neeraj Chopra qualifies for the men’s javelin final with a throw of 86.65m

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