Asher-Smith lapping up the limelight
DINA ASHER-SMITH says her billing as British athletics’ golden girl has convinced her to take on the world.
A year on from being crowned sprint queen of Europe, Britain’s fastest-ever woman has become one of the best known faces in sport.
Vogue magazine named her as one of 25 women doing most to shape Britain’s future, while Sports Illustrated featured her on their list of the world’s 50 most fashionable athletes. And at London’s Olympic Stadium tomorrow, she steps up her preparations for the World Championships on the second day of the Anniversary Games.
She is joined by James Ellington (below), who makes an emotional return to athletics in the 100m today after cheating death in a motorbike crash two years ago.
Lawrence Okoye, the British discus record holder who quit for American football six years ago, is also set to appear with a view to restarting his athletics career.
And Laura Muir continues her progress towards what she believes can be a gold medal in Doha this October in the 1500m.
But 100m star Asher-Smith has the top billing, bringing with her an expectation which would crush many.
“Some people would get overwhelmed,” said Asher-Smith, 23.
“But I think it’s nice that people think I can go on to do great things.
“For years and years we haven’t really seen this kind of hope in other athletes across some disciplines in the UK. I’ve used the expectation to give me more confidence, taken other people’s energy and put it into myself.
“Because sometimes I do tell myself, ’You can’t, you can’t’, when really I should be telling myself, ‘I can’.”