Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu-Nikolayev has announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Yegor Nikolayev.She shared the happy news after a challenging period in her athletics career that has kept her away from competition for more than a year.The American middle-distance runner announced the pregnancy on Instagram, posting a series of photographs with her husband as the couple prepared to welcome their first child.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news“Baby on board ☀️ Can’t wait to meet our little Sunshine! (sic)” Mu-Nikolayev wrote.One of the photographs showed the couple standing in an open field, with Mu holding ultrasound images, while other pictures highlighted her growing baby bump.The announcement attracted congratulatory messages from fellow athletes, including Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, as well as Hunter Woodhall and Masai Russell.Mu married fellow athlete Nikolayev on March 8, 2025, and the couple are now preparing to begin a new chapter of their lives.Sha’Carri Richardson reveals careers she would pursue outside athleticsHowever, the Olympic champion has yet to disclose her baby's expected arrival date or reveal whether she intends to return to competitive athletics.The pregnancy announcement comes after a challenging two-year stretch for Mu, whose career was disrupted by injury and a series of disappointing results following her triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021.Mu tore her hamstring approximately six weeks before the 2024 United States Olympic Trials, leaving her preparation for the Paris Olympics severely compromised.Despite returning to compete in the 800m final at the trials in Eugene, Oregon, her hopes of securing a place on the American team were dashed when she fell approximately 200 metres into the race after getting tangled with other runners.##NAJAVA_MECA_10036871##She eventually finished ninth in 2:19.69, missing out on an opportunity to defend the Olympic title she had won in Tokyo.Her comeback in 2025 also proved difficult as she struggled to rediscover her best form.At the Prefontaine Classic in July, Mu finished last in the women's 800m in 2:03.44 before improving to 1:59.79 at the USATF Outdoor Championships on August 1, 2025.Despite the improvement, she finished fourth in her semifinal and failed to qualify for the final.That race remains her last competitive appearance, with the American star subsequently staying away from competition throughout 2026.According to LetsRun.com, her former coach Bobby Kersee previously revealed that Mu was still dealing with physical and mental challenges stemming from her injury.Should Kenyan football adopt popular Tanzanian clubs trend to attract more fans?“She still had nagging pains here and there. There were still some off-balances or whatever. She wasn’t 100% herself,” Kersee said.Mu and Kersee ended their coaching relationship in 2025 after working together for approximately three years.Kersee, who guided Mu through some of the biggest achievements of her career, nevertheless expressed confidence in her ability to return to the top once she had fully recovered.“I’m sure they’ll seek out good coaching and once she’s healthy, then she’s going to be very difficult to beat. She’s that talented,” he told LetsRun.com.Mu's extended absence has left questions surrounding her future in athletics, particularly after she established herself as one of the world's leading middle-distance runners with her Olympic triumph and other major championship performances.Eliud Kipchoge on how athletes can secure more brand endorsementsHer pregnancy announcement, however, does not establish whether her absence from competition in 2026 was related to her pregnancy, and she has not publicly confirmed the reasons for staying away from the track.Mu's latest announcement has also sparked questions about whether she could return to competition in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.The American remains one of the most talented 800m runners of her generation, having won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and established herself as a leading figure in the event.Missing the Paris 2024 Olympics was a significant setback, particularly after her success in Tokyo, but the Los Angeles Games could offer another opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in athletics.
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