Athing Mu-Nikolayev is an American middle-distance runner. She is the youngest woman to hold Olympic and world titles in an individual track and field event.
At the age of 19, Mu won the gold medal in the 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, breaking a national record set by Ajeé Wilson in 2017, and a continental under-20 record. She took a second gold as part of the women's 4 × 400 m relay.
She was the 800 m 2022 World champion, becoming the first American woman to win the world championship title over the distance. Mu holds the world under-20 record in the women's indoor 800 m, which she set in early 2021. She also holds the world U20 best in the indoor 600 meters, set in 2019 when she was 16 years of age with the third fastest time run indoors.
As of Sep 15, 2026: 800 m 1:54.97 (#11 all-time), 400 m 49.57 (#59 all-time), 2025 season best 1:59.79 (Aug 1, 2025, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA)) · Last competition: USA Championships, Aug 3, 2025, 2:00.06 · Olympic Games: 2 gold · World Championships: 1 gold, 1 bronze · National record (800 m) · 24 years old
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