Athing Mu-Nikolayev (born June 8, 2002) is an American middle-distance runner from Trenton, New Jersey.
She is the youngest woman in history to hold both Olympic and world titles in an individual track and field event.
Who is Athing Mu?
Athing Mu-Nikolayev is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 meters and 400 meters. Her achievements at historic young ages set her apart from nearly every athlete in the sport’s history.
At 19 years old, she won gold in the women’s 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That victory also broke the American record, making her the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the event since 1968.
She went on to win the 800m title at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. That win made Mu the first American woman ever to claim the world championship title over the distance.
Her Wikipedia profile documents her as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time world champion, and holder of multiple under-20 world records.
She also holds the current American record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.97, set in September 2023.
She later married Russian track athlete Yegor Nikolayev in March 2025 and adopted the name Athing Mu-Nikolayev.
Early Life of Athing Mu
Athing Mu grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, as the first child in her family born on American soil. Her parents, Deng Mu and Aluel Lual, immigrated to the United States from South Sudan in 2000.
Her family is of Dinka ethnic descent. Mu is the second youngest of seven siblings, four brothers and two sisters.
Her father, Deng Mu, works as a seafood processor in the Pacific Northwest. Her mother, Aluel Lual, works in a warehouse.
Two of her brothers, Deng Mu and Malual Mu, ran cross-country and track at Penn State University. They were known as the “Mu Brothers” at Trenton High School, where they were part of the best boys’ cross-country team in school history.
Instead of joining her high school track team, Mu chose to compete for the Trenton Track Club. She trained there under coaches Al Jennings and Bernice Mitchell.
Athing Mu Age
Athing Mu-Nikolayev is 24 years old as of June 28, 2026, born on June 8, 2002. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.
She became an Olympic champion at just 19, younger than nearly any American track athlete in modern history.
Athing Mu Ethnicity and Nationality
Mu holds American nationality by birth. Her family background is South Sudanese, specifically of Dinka descent.
Her parents immigrated from South Sudan before she was born, making her a first-generation American.
Athing Mu Height and Weight
Athing Mu stands at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall. Her weight is reported at approximately 56 kg (124 lbs).
Her tall frame and long stride give her a natural mechanical advantage in middle-distance events like the 800 meters.
Athing Mu Education
Mu attended Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, graduating in 2020. Rather than compete for her high school team, she ran for the Trenton Track Club throughout her secondary school years.
She enrolled at Texas A&M University in 2020 and completed one year of collegiate competition before turning professional. During her sole collegiate season, she set six all-time NCAA records and won three NCAA titles.
Texas A&M Head Coach Pat Henry publicly supported her decision to go professional in June 2021. Mu did not complete her undergraduate degree.
Athing Mu Career
Mu began competing in track and field at six years old. By age 16, she was already breaking national records.
Career Breakthrough
On February 24, 2019, Mu broke the American women’s 600-meter indoor record with a time of 1:23.57 at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. That performance surpassed Alysia Montano’s previous American record of 1:23.59.
She was just 16 years old at the time. That race also made her a senior national champion while still in high school.
In February 2021, her first collegiate season at Texas A&M produced a wave of record-breaking performances.
She ran 50.52 seconds in the indoor 400 meters on February 6, which was faster than the official World Athletics under-20 world record held by Sanya Richards.
On February 27, 2021, she ran 1:58.40 in the indoor 800 meters. That time set both the NCAA collegiate record and the world under-20 record in the event.
NCAA Dominance
At the 2021 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Mu won the outdoor 400 meters in 49.57 seconds. That mark set a new collegiate all-time record.
She anchored the Texas A&M women’s 4×400-meter relay team to a collegiate record of 3:22.34 at the same championships. Texas A&M claimed the national team championship in large part due to her performances.
In that 2021 collegiate season, Mu competed 36 times and won 35 races. World Athletics named her the Female Rising Star of the Year.
Tokyo Olympics and World Title
Mu qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon, winning with a time of 1:56.07. At the Tokyo Games, she led the women’s 800-meter final from start to finish.
She won gold in a time of 1:55.21, breaking the American record previously set by Ajeé Wilson in 2017. That performance also ended a 53-year Olympic win drought for American women in the 800 meters.
She won a second gold medal as part of the women’s 4×400-meter relay team in Tokyo. Mu became the youngest American woman to win an individual Olympic track and field title since Wyomia Tyus in 1964.
At the Prefontaine Classic after the Tokyo Games, she improved the American 800-meter record to 1:55.04.
2022 World Championship
In July 2022, Mu competed at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She won the women’s 800 meters in a world-leading time of 1:56.30, edging Keely Hodgkinson by just 0.08 seconds.
That victory made her the first American woman to win the 800m world championship title. She also became the youngest woman in history to hold both Olympic and world titles in an individual track event.
2023 and Coaching Change
In September 2023, Mu set her current personal best and American record of 1:54.97 at the Prefontaine Classic. That time ranks among the fastest ever recorded by any woman in the event.
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, she won a bronze medal in the 800 meters. She had moved to train under coach Bobby Kersee in 2023.
2024 Olympic Trials Fall and Aftermath
The 2024 US Olympic Trials proved to be one of the most painful moments of Mu’s career. She fell during the women’s 800-meter final, finishing last in 2:16.69. That result disqualified her from the Paris Olympic team.
Coach Bobby Kersee stated that another runner tripped her in the first lap. A formal appeal was submitted to USATF, which denied it without disclosing further details.
She missed the 2024 Paris Olympics entirely, where Keely Hodgkinson went on to win the 800-meter gold. Mu dealt with hamstring issues throughout 2024 that further limited her competition schedule.
2025 Return
Mu returned to competition in April 2025, entering the 5,000 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays. She completed 3,000 meters of the race before dropping out, using it as a base-building exercise.
She returned to the 800 meters at the Prefontaine Classic in July 2025, finishing 10th in 2:03.44. At the 2025 USATF Championships, she ran a season’s best of 1:59.79 in the semifinals but did not advance to the final.
In December 2025, Mu and coach Bobby Kersee parted ways after three seasons together.
She relocated from Los Angeles to Dallas and began working with a new coach, though the coaching arrangement had not been publicly confirmed as of June 2026. As of 2026, Mu had not competed during the 2026 season.
Athing Mu Awards and Recognition
- 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Gold medal, women’s 800 meters; Gold medal, women’s 4×400-meter relay
- 2022 World Athletics Championships: Gold medal, women’s 800 meters (first American woman to win this title)
- 2023 World Athletics Championships: Bronze medal, women’s 800 meters
- 2021 World Athletics: Female Rising Star of the Year
- World under-20 record, women’s indoor 800 meters (1:58.40, set 2021)
- World U20 best, women’s indoor 600 meters (set 2019)
- American record, women’s 800 meters (1:54.97, set September 2023)
Athing Mu Net Worth
Athing Mu-Nikolayev’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes from competition prize money, endorsement deals, and sponsorships.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, each gold medal earned her $37,500, with two gold medals totaling $75,000 from that event. She holds a notable sponsorship relationship with Nike.
Her American record performances and world championship victories have consistently increased her market value as an elite track athlete.
Athing Mu Husband
Athing Mu-Nikolayev is married to Yegor Nikolayev, a Russian former track and field athlete. The two got engaged in September 2024 during a trip to Malibu, California.
They married on March 8, 2025, at Pelican Hill in California. Following the wedding, Mu adopted her husband’s surname, becoming Athing Mu-Nikolayev.
Yegor Nikolayev is a retired Russian middle-distance runner who represented Russia at the 2012 London Olympics in the 1,500 meters. He also earned a silver medal at the 2011 European Team Championships in the 3,000 meters.
Mu has credited Nikolayev as a key source of support during the difficult period following her 2024 Olympic Trials fall. She has described how his presence helped her regain confidence and love for competition.
Athing Mu Social Media
Mu is active on Instagram under the handle @athiiing. She uses the platform to share personal milestones, race updates, and moments from her faith life.
Her Instagram bio describes her as Athing Mu-Nikolayev and reflects her Christian faith. She shared her wedding photos publicly on Instagram in July 2025, four months after the private ceremony took place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Athing Mu’s net worth?
Athing Mu-Nikolayev’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her wealth comes primarily from competition earnings, endorsement deals, and Nike sponsorships.
How old is Athing Mu?
Athing Mu is 24 years old as of June 28, 2026. She was born on June 8, 2002, in Trenton, New Jersey.
Who is Athing Mu married to?
Athing Mu is married to Yegor Nikolayev, a retired Russian middle-distance runner. The couple wed on March 8, 2025, in a private ceremony in California.
What is Athing Mu’s height?
Athing Mu stands at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall.
What is Athing Mu’s biggest athletic achievement?
Mu won two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (800 meters and 4×400-meter relay) and the 2022 World Athletics Championship 800-meter title. She became the youngest woman ever to hold both Olympic and world titles in an individual track event.
Where was Athing Mu born?
Athing Mu was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on June 8, 2002.
The Bottom Line
Athing Mu-Nikolayev won two Olympic gold medals in Tokyo at age 19 and became the first American woman to win the 800-meter world championship title at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene.
Those back-to-back seasons remain among the most dominant stretches by any young American track athlete in decades.
She comes from a family of South Sudanese immigrants who built a life in Trenton, New Jersey. Her brothers Deng and Malual also ran track at Penn State University, reflecting the family’s deep connection to the sport.
As of 2026, Mu has parted ways with coach Bobby Kersee and relocated to Dallas as she works to return to elite competition. Her American record of 1:54.97 still stands, and the sport continues to watch closely for her next chapter.
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