KEELY HODGKINSON has received a massive Paris Olympics boost – as her biggest rival will not be there.
Three years ago in Tokyo, Athing Mu got the better of the Leigh runner and fellow teenager in the Olympic 800-meter final by just 0.67 seconds.
But the American, 22, will not defend that crown, watching the race on TV instead after FALLING in the US Olympic trials.
The Yanks have a cutthroat system for qualification and the middle-distance star did not secure her passage after being accidentally tripped over 200 metres in Eugene.
Mu, who also beat Hodgkinson to world gold on the same track in 2022, choked back tears as her dream was cruelly dashed.
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She finished last in a nine-woman field she was expected to dominate, coming more than 22 seconds behind the winner Nia Akins.
An appeal was lodged by her team but her only chance of getting a flight to France will be as part of the 4x400 metres relay squad.
There was no gloating or celebrating from the Hodgkinson camp, who say they are “gutted” they cannot face the New Jersey athlete in individual combat.
Coach Jenny Meadows – who will oversee Hodgkinson running the 400 metres this weekend at the UK Athletics Championships – said: “We plan the same way.
“Keely wants to be at her best and have the skills no matter who she has to face.
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"No Olympic title will come easy.
“You can only race who is there.
"Any Olympic champs will always be a stern test. But we wish Athing was there, of course.”
Mu's coach Bobby Kersee told AP: “I’ve coached it, I’ve preached it, I’ve watched it.
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“And here’s another indication that regardless of how good we are, we can leave some better athletes home than other countries have.
"It’s part of our American way.”
