Keely Hodgkinson's Olympic gold medal hopes boosted after her rival Athing Mu failed to qualify for the Games after falling in the US trials

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Keely Hodgkinson's dream of winning Olympic gold in the 800metres has been boosted after defending champion Athing Mu fell in the US trials and failed to qualify for Paris.

British star Hodgkinson had to settle for silver behind Mu at the Games in Tokyo three years ago, as well as at the World Championships in Eugene in 2022.

But the 22-year-old will now not have to face Mu in Paris after the American crashed to the track on the first lap of the 800m final at the US trials and ended up finishing last.

The US only select the top three finishers at their trials for the Olympics, with no discretionary places awarded like they are in Britain.

Mu was competing in her first meet since last year’s World Championships because of a hamstring injury but confidently progressed through her heat and semi-final.

Keely Hodgkinson will be the favourite to claim gold in the women's 800m in Paris in August

Reigning Olympic and World champion Athing Mu fell in the US trials and failed to qualify for the Games

the American crashed to the track on the first lap of the 800m final and ended up finishing last

However, in the final she tumbled to the floor inside the first 200m after making contact with other runners in the pack.

She got back on her feet and completed the race, but the damage was done and she finished 22 seconds behind winner Nia Akins.

Mu left the stadium in tears and while her coach Bobby Kersee lodged an appeal, claiming she had been spiked from behind, it was not successful.

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Kersee later hit out at the ruthless US Olympic qualification system and said: ‘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.’

Hodgkinson has previously insisted she always wants to compete against the world’s best and her coach Jenny Meadows said they were ‘gutted’ that Mu will not be in Paris.

However, it greatly increases the Wigan-born runner’s chances of claiming her first global gold medal.

Even if Mu had been at the Olympics, Hodgkinson would likely have started as favourite given her fine summer so far.

She has run the fastest time in the world this year with 1min 55.78sec and defended her European title in Rome earlier this month despite falling ill just before the race.

Hodgkinson’s main challenger in Paris will now be Kenyan Mary Moraa, who beat her at last year’s World Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Hodgkinson romped to victory in the women's 800m at the European Championships earlier this month

However, Hodgkinson got the better of Moraa in their one showdown so far this season at the Eugene Diamond League last month.

Hodgkinson is next in action at this weekend’s British trials in Manchester but, with her 800m spot already secured, she will run the 400m instead.