In 2021, Athing Mu rose to fame after winning the 800 meters and 4×400-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, the 21-year-old has solidified herself as the preeminent 800-meter runner in United States, taking gold at the 2022 World Championships and setting an American record of 1:54.97 last September.
But while many track and field athletes partner with fitness-specific brands (like shoe, nutrition, or watch companies), Mu has taken a slightly different approach.
Mu, who turns 22 on June 8, is sponsored by Nike, but she’s made an effort to associate herself with non-athletic brands as well, like Coca-Cola and Neiman Marcus, and even walked at New York Fashion Week in 2022.
On Tuesday, she announced a new partnership with the skincare company Olay.
Mu said she was excited when the brand, which has worked with celebrities like Keke Palmer and Quinta Brunson in recent years, approached her about becoming an ambassador for their new cleansing melts.
“[Olay is] all about authentic women,” Mu told Runner’s World. “I think one thing that I do within track and field that I want to emphasize—not just to women but also men and the sport in general—is for all of us to go outside of the box and outside of our events and bring out our personality and character.”
