Celeste’s Olympic Quest

Margins and milliseconds often dictate Olympic fate, but Celeste Mucci had to race the calendar before she could race the clock. Rupturing her hamstring tendon in January, the nonchalant hurdler’s comeback would be bigger news if she was more theatre than business.

On the flip side, it might be Mucci’s lack of theatrics that has made her return possible. Skirting the line of pushing but never rushing; pressing but never panicking – the heptathlete-turned-hurdler would not be denied her Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

“After the World Championships last year, I had a really good pre-season. Everything was looking and feeling good, and I ran my fastest season opener. Canberra was obviously a freak accident where I ruptured my hamstring tendon,” Mucci said.

“I missed the Olympics in Tokyo and I was like surely not, I’m not missing this team again. It’s the only one I don’t have and it’s the one I want the most.”

At 24-years-old, Mucci is not shy of experience. Her 12 Australian representative appearances come across the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Relay Championships, World Under 20 Championships, Oceania Championships and World University Games – now adding an Olympic tracksuit to her collection.

“To be able to go and do this with two of my closest friends Ella [Connolly] and Mia [Gross], it makes it so much nicer to share it with them. It’s been all of our goals and we have been talking about it for years,” Mucci said.

“I’m sure we will try on the uniforms together and Mia will be vlogging the whole thing, which is good because we can look back on it and laugh at the things we were doing.”

Hamstrung after surgery in February, Mucci had to heal before she could hurdle, but she could not just rest without an Olympic qualifying performance – forced to race prior to Paris in a bid to maintain her qualification status via world rankings.

“It was one of the hardest things that I have done physically and mentally. I wanted to share that when I got selected to show that it is possible to do it in a different way. It was really challenging but I wouldn’t change it now for anything because it has shown me what I’m capable of,” Mucci said.

Opening proceedings with a 13.45 (+0.3) showing in the heats of the Australian Championships 10 weeks after surgery, Mucci progressed rapidly overseas to set a seasons best of 12.90 (+0.7) in Canada last month – just 0.06-seconds outside of her career-best as she builds trust back in her body.

“Once I could start hurdling again, I saw progression every day and week. It was just the first six-to-eight weeks where I couldn’t do much during the healing process. Everyone else was well into the domestic season and it was hard watching on,” Mucci said.

“With hurdles, the more hesitant you are, the worse it is. I just needed to give it everything because if it was any other year, I would obviously take it more cautiously.”

Flashing the occasional rehab exercise on social media but never claiming to be a hard-luck story, it comes as no surprise when Mucci reveals her stitches from surgery became infected from returning to cross training in the pool too quickly – sparking one thought: 

“I just need everything to go well, I don’t need any added stresses.”

The hurdler’s calendar has been populated by training sessions and meetings since surgery in January, working with her team headed by coach Darren Clark and the likes of Corey Innes, Kevin Craigie and Nicky Frey at the Victorian Institute of Sport.

“I’ve been with Clarky since the start of high school. He’s such a calm coach and I have gone through so much with him. He’s great at giving me feedback and confidence, this year especially,” Mucci said.

And while Mucci rose to prominence with a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games before winning both the heptathlon and 100m hurdles at the 2019 Australian Championships, she remains committed to the hurdles – for now.

“I’ve got the flat speed, it’s just about refining things technically. Obviously there’s 10 hurdles so we are trying to take back some time on each one. We’ve also been working on my start as well, so if it all comes together, I’m sure I can keep improving,” Mucci said.

“I would love to go back to the heptathlon and see where I’m at, but I don’t know when. Maybe I’ll leave that door open for later in life.”

The heats of the Women’s 100m Hurdles at the 2024 Olympic Games begin on August 7, where Mucci will race alongside fellow Australians Michelle Jenneke and Liz Clay. 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted by 17/07/2024