I have read a lot of posts from folks on this site over the years.
Why tf would anyone criticize the decisions of an individual that has already cemented a rarified spot in our sport?
That’s some sh*t, people. “I was a fan until…” - an individual’s decision and choice. Btw, the decision and choice of World and Olympic champion.
Comedy. A bunch of keyboard tough guys.
Thank you for inspiring me to react and respond to this after more than a decade of LRdotC participation. WTF?
Go back to retirement, old man, you and what me, race Mu would make a cute couple
If she doesn't like track anymore, or ever, fine -- leave!!
She's a genetic freak who doesbt want to work anymore -- also fine, but be honest and just LEAVE so others wgaf about the sport can get some attention.
Time for Athing to out that A&M.soil science degree to good use hah hah.
I said in a post about a month ago that her career as we know it was done. Three things: (1) There is no way Athing running 1:58-high in late June was going to beat athletes running 1:55 and 1:56 weeks earlier. She was not going to win gold in Budapest; she knew it and Bobby knew it. (2) In a recent interview, Athing clearly expressed her lack of commitment to running and how she wanted to explore other interests. Competing at the highest level requires total commitment (period). (3) She took too long of a break after the WCs last year, probably allowed herself to get too out of shape and is finding it difficult to back to where she needs to be. I suspect she a couple months last Autum 2022 and into the early winter where she did not do anything. Btw, not competing in 2023 will only make the situation worse.
...I hope I am wrong.
Young kids these days... Somebody planted a stupid thought in her head about modeling. Olympic gold medalist is far superior to stupid modeling but not in their world.
Perhaps it's been mentioned already in this thread, but skipping the World Championships (which strikes me as difficult to understand) will seem even worse if Mu is unable to compete, for just about any reason, in the next Olympic Games.
If Athing shows up to worlds and drops a 1:54 to win, a lot of this thread looks ridiculous. Granted, I'll be a little mad and a bit upset if she doesn't go. It would also be awesome for her to show up to Worlds and just destroy everybody. Her ability to toy with the sport is frustrating but it she pulled that off: it's like f**k everyone, I can do what I want, how I want. I would have to respect that. This could all be Keesee's biggest troll of everyone.
You really think highly of yourself don't you? Who the f*&k are you? Did she ask you for compassion? Do you really believe she cares about your compassion? The comments here are hysterical, a bunch of nobodies demanding answers or they will cry, pout, piss themselves, etc. Absolutely idiotic.
I think you can have compassion but still be very disappointed. What would you say to a big fan who was planning to travel to Budapest and already spent $ in great part to see her compete? Honestly, at the end of the day fans pay her salary. Yes, it’s routed through Nike, but it’s really the fans who support her and all of the pros. She’s a person with feelings and a she’s a champion, so she deserves some deference, but I do think fans have a right to be openly critical of this decision (if it’s true). No fans, no money, no sport.
So what? If fans are disappointed, so what? What I would say to a fan who is planning on traveling to Budapest only to see Athing Mu race in “you pays your money, you takes your chances.” Fans can say what they want and it is meaningless. I am sure fans were disappointed about Simone Bile. Again, so what? Fans need to get a life.
If running is no longer her passion, ok; she's had a very successful career already. I mean, if the WC doesn't excite a T&F athlete, it's time they retired.
I have to say, though, it re-enforces my opinion that switching to Bobby was a big mistake.
If running is no longer her passion, ok; she's had a very successful career already. I mean, if the WC doesn't excite a T&F athlete, it's time they retired.
I have to say, though, it re-enforces my opinion that switching to Bobby was a big mistake.
Makes no sense at all. Bobby is good at landing good athletes but his genius is overestimated. By the way, what is his past history in regards to his athletes and PEDs?
This is precisely why TnF is a bush league sport. Both coach and athlete need to explain what THE HELL IS GOING ON??????
FFS, is it too much to represent your country??? JFC...
Imagine Iga Swiatek's coach saying "the preparation is going well, but we are not sure if she is going to defend her US Open title..."
No, I cannot.
It's not that hard to imagine an elite tennis player taking a mental break as Osaka has done and a few other elite athletes all but indicated that they were doing this.
Imagine Iga Swiatek's coach saying "the preparation is going well, but we are not sure if she is going to defend her US Open title..."
No, I cannot.
It's not that hard to imagine an elite tennis player taking a mental break as Osaka has done and a few other elite athletes all but indicated that they were doing this.
The tennis analogy doesn’t work for me — track athletes hardly compete as is and when they do they are only performing for what? A few minutes?
The stress of other sports fees quantifiably greater given 1)relatively higher popularity / publicity and pressure that comes with 2) frequency of competition 3) duration and variability of competition
track athletes don’t realize how pampered their sport is. Only have to come out and perform 7 to 10 days a year.
If this is true, Mu is dead to me. Not that she cares, but it's completely effing idiotic that she would not compete while healthy. I mean, is she just going to wait until the Paris summer olympics in 2024? Ridiculous. This sport is so incredibly frustrating. Would Tom Brady have taken a year off during then prime of his career? FFS, this is infuriating.
Thanks. RW also quoted part of that interview in a just released article. Geez. She just turned 21 and is already a Worlds and Olympic champ. The vitriol coming out of this thread is incredible - all the people who say they will just stop rooting for her just like that. Wow. Give the gal a break if she wants to take a year off! '21 Tokyo, '22 Eugene, '23 Budapest, '24 Paris. Might be a recipe for burnout for some. Like others have said, at this point, Olympic Gold is what really matters, and I think they have an eye on not just Paris next year but saving something for LA 2028.
["This year has been so great for me mentally. It's such a relief I haven't really put myself out there that much."]
"Coming into these meets, whether it’s a small competition, big competition, there’s just so much pressure just overall. You know, you’re overthinking your race days before you’re even out there. So I mean, just the overall pressure that you feel when it comes to competing is a lot and so I think, you know, the past few years have been a lot for me.”
["So we just wanted to step back and be my 21 year old self and just enjoy life for a little bit."]
Burnout? Well skip indoor idk. Bobby's training might be mentally burning her out.
It would've been great to see her race several times this year, but really her the main part of her job is to show up at ONE meet. She had the bye. Look at athletes like Hassan, Jacobs, and Warholm last year. Not near 100%, but made sure to show up when it mattered the most for their job, country, and fans. And she wants to be a model? Try being a no-show on the runway a few times and flaking on your biggest appearance of the year as a headliner. She's better off with reduction clause Nike.
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