Mercer Co. Teen Athing Mu Wins Olympic Gold In 800 Meters

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Athing Mu, a 19-year-old athlete from Trenton won the Olympic Gold medal in the women’s 800-meter race on Tuesday in Tokyo.

Mu sprinted to victory in 1 minute, 55.21 seconds, creating a new American record. She became the first American woman to win the 800-meter race since the 1968 Mexico City Games.

"God definitely took the battle for this one! So, thank you Lord," Mu tweeted after her race.

Congratulatory messages poured in for Mu after her victory.

“On behalf of all of Mercer County, congratulations to Athing Mu on her spectacular Olympic performance and successful quest for the Gold Medal,” Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes told Patch in a statement.

“The amount of work and effort to reach this moment is awe-inspiring, and we are so proud of her achievement.”

Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora said Mu’s gold medal performance was the “natural progression of someone who has been breaking records throughout her young career.”

“It’s a precious thing to be able to achieve so much at such a young age, and I’m confident her excellent showing will serve as a timeless inspiration to the youth who call the Capital City home. Trenton makes champions, and the whole world got to see it today,” Gusciora said in a media statement.

The Mayor said Trenton was looking forward to celebrating Mu’s achievement “together as a community.”

Gov. Phil Murphy congratulated Mu on “bringing home a gold.”

“Trenton Makes, the World Takes! Congratulations @athiiing on bringing home the gold – the first American to win the women’s 800m since 1968! All of New Jersey is celebrating you," Murphy said on Twitter.

At the race on Tuesday, Mu led from the very start. Keely Hodgkinson from Great Britain was placed second, finishing at 1 minute, 55.88 seconds, followed by American Raevyn Rogers at 1 minute, 56.81 seconds.

According to NBC Sports, Mu's parents immigrated to the United States from Sudan more than two decades ago and she is the second youngest among seven siblings. Mu is also the first in the family to be born in the United States.

A freshman at Texas A&M University, Mu shattered six collegiate records and set eight school records this past season. Mu was a favorite going into Tuesday’s race. She turned pro ahead of the Olympic trials this year, finishing first in the national 400- and 800-meter races.

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