Cathal Dennehy: The agony and ecstasy of the US Olympic Trials

Mu is the reigning Olympic champion, a title she won in Tokyo while still a teenager.

HEARTBROKEN:  Renigning Olympic champion Athing Mu reacts in the women's 800 meter final as she misses out on Olympic qualification after falling. Pic: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

One shot told us so much. One lingering, voyeuristic shot, the camera glaring at Athing Mu in her darkest moment. The NBC commentator went silent, allowing us to hear her sniffled breaths, her sobs of distress, the lens trained on her pained expression.

The director had cut away from the victors, the euphoric trio who’d just qualified for the US Olympic team, to show us the vanquished. For 30 seconds we watched Mu – the best 800m runner of her generation – come to terms with the fact that she won’t be competing at the Paris Olympics. Having been tripped in the 800m final at the US Trials, she trailed in last.