Who Are Nia Akins & Allie Wilson? 800M Champions Who Finished Ahead of Athing Mu to Punch Paris Olympics Ticket

As any athlete knows, upsets are part and parcel of any game. As the country’s sports fans mourn the absence of 2020 Olympic gold medalist David Taylor from the national team heading to Paris, another Olympian will also miss the chance to defend her gold on the grand stage. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu is out of the race to Paris after finishing last in the women’s 800m final at the ongoing US Track and Field Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

With 1:57.36 on the clock, Nia Akins took the top spot in the race to punch her ticket to Paris, along with Allie Wilson, who came in second (1:58.32). This race saw Akins register the personal best of her career so far, as she significantly developed on her time from last year’s World Championships, where she finished 6th. However, Nia has had much better luck in domestic tournaments and is the current national champion in both indoor and outdoor events. Akins is currently the seventh-ranked female 800m sprinter according to World Athletics’ official website, only two spots behind Mu.

On the other hand, Wilson is a NACAC Championships silver medalist and finished the semi-final of the Team Trials in fifth place. The 2024 Indoor National Champion improved her performance from Albuquerque significantly and reduced by almost one-and-a-half seconds to qualify as a representative of the USA in the upcoming Paris Olympics. This will be Allie’s first-ever Olympics, and given she manages to maintain her momentum from the Team Trials, she might have a shot at finishing on the podium at the French capital as well.

New stars leaving Athing Mu in the dust?

When it comes to women’s 800m sprint, Athing Mu is a name that evokes reverence across the global community. Along with the two Olympic gold medals, Mu also boasts a World Championships gold medal in her trophy cabinet. Not only that, she is also the 2019 Pan American U20 Championships gold medalist. However, at the onset of how the country’s women’s 800m just experienced a titular shift, here’s a look at Mu, Akins, and Wilson’s personal best times to comprehend if Mu’s accolades are in danger of being surpassed.

The above table definitively shows that despite her latest stumble, Mu remains firmly ahead of both of her colleagues. While Akins’ feat in Eugene was her best time in the event to date, it is still almost three seconds slower than her Olympic peer’s best time. On the other hand, Wilson’s best time in the race was recorded two years ago in Switzerland, when she won the silver medal at the prestigious Athletissima.

Do you think either Akins or Wilson will be able to find a place on the podium at the Paris Games? Share your predictions with us!