Two Olympic golds, one American 800m record, six NCAA Division I records, one Olympic Trials title, and three NCAA crowns – each notched on her belt before the age of 20. Even further, Athing Mu accomplished all of this in her dominant 2021 track season alone, becoming one of the most revered collegiate, domestic, and international half-mile runners of all time in just one year. It’s easy to forget that when Mu crossed the finish line in her unforgettable Olympic gold medal performance the 19-year-old superstar had just wrapped up her freshman year of college, and that she had been competing since she opened her indoor season on January 16. Without all of that racing in her legs, Mu has been just as dominant in 2022, with a world-leading 1:57.01 and an unbeaten record in the 800m entering worlds. One might think that with such a bevy of accomplishments in her back pocket, the newly 20-year-old Athing might be satisfied with her dream season – perhaps unsure of what to set her sights on next. Luckily for American track and field fans, that could not be farther from the truth. As much as Athing has accomplished already, she is as hungry as ever, excited to chase the unknown limits of her vast potential. “My motivation comes from the past and the unknown future,” Athing said. “I always think, ‘if they did it, why can't I?’, and then when I do it, I think about how much further I can go.” Athing’s confidence and poise have brought unprecedented success for an American 800m runner of any age. On top of breaking the American record twice last year, Mu was the first American woman to win Olympic gold since Madeline Manning in 1968, putting an end to Team USATF’s 53-year drought in the event. How was she able to accomplish so much at such a young age? For Mu, it comes down to confidence. “The reason why I'm an Olympic champ is because I had confidence,” Mu told Olympics.com. “If I didn't have that confidence coming into this, then I wouldn't have competed the way I did. I wouldn’t have this medal around my neck…that word defines me.” Mu also draws motivation from her strong familial background. Her parents immigrated to the United States from South Sudan before she was born and worked long hours to support Athing and her six siblings. Now - even after winning U.S. and Olympic titles - she remembers what her family has done for her and the contribution it had to her triumphs; and for as many supreme moments as she has had in her young career, it is their support outside of athletics that means the most. “If there is anyone who has known me from the beginning, and is okay with the good, bad, and ugly, it’ll be my family,” Mu said. “Together we have grown and continue to grow as one unit. Having people who can truly see you beyond the things you’ve accomplished means so much to me. I’m not the type of athlete to walk around with my accomplishments on my chest, so to have others around me that put that part of me to the side until necessary shows me true genuine relationships and support.” In 2022 she will have the opportunity to continue to add to her rapidly growing list of accomplishments, with the 2022 World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field - the first on U.S. soil. After her exciting photo-finish with Indoor World Champion Ajee’ Wilson to win her second straight U.S. title in 1:57.16, Athing looks poised to do the same at Worlds. For many, the idea of holding the titles of Olympic and World champion as a 20-year-old college student might seem overwhelming, perhaps even impossible; but when it comes to Athing Mu, there simply is no such thing as impossible. “I think about all of the things that have gotten me to this point,” she said. “Before I knew I was good, I put in work. When I knew I was good, I dreamt. Later on, when those dreams finally came to life, I realized that it was actually all possible and it just took one step after another to get there. Why? Because I got here the same way and I can go even further.” Written by Adam Cortez