Tokyo (AFP)
The American Athing Mu was crowned Olympic champion in the 800m at just 19 years old at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday in the absence of the defending champion, the South African Caster Semenya, concerned by the regulation on hyperandrogenism.
After leading from start to finish, Mu finished in 1 min 55 sec 21 ahead of Briton Keely Hodgkinson (1: 55.88, also 19) and American Raevyn Rogers (1: 56.81).
This Sudanese refugee girl, who was born and raised in the United States, has proven herself in international athletics for a few months by multiplying the performances of choice over 400 and 800 m.
A student at Texas A&M University in College Station, she particularly shone in 2021 in the NCAA College Championships.
With her endless stride, she led the 800m final in Tokyo from start to finish, like a boss despite her age, as the Kenyan king of the 800m David Rudisha did in her heyday.
By accelerating again in the 500 m, she achieved a brilliant time, the United States record, becoming above all the fourth performer of all time over the distance, behind in particular the world record holder Pamela Jelimo (1: 54.01) and the South- African Caster Semenya (record in 1 min 54 sec 25).
Double reigning Olympic champion, Semenya is not present in Tokyo because of the regulation on hyperandrogenic athletes.
Since 2019, the athletes concerned must undergo treatment to lower their testosterone levels for six consecutive months before being able to participate in an international competition of the 400 m per mile (1,609 m), which the South African refuses to do, emblem fight against this rule.
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