Gold medallist Britain's Dina Asher-Smith poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's 200m at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha on October 3, 2019. / AFP / KARIM JAAFAR
Dina Asher-Smith will not take time out after her hectic campaign at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 as Britain’s history-making sprinter has already shifted her focus to next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Asher-Smith on Wednesday night became the first British female athlete to win a world sprint title after storming to the women’s 200m gold at the Khalifa International Stadium. She clocked 21.88 to set a new national record as well.
The 23-year-old, who also won a silver medal in women’s 100m in Doha, said she has her sights on medals in Olympics, which is just month’s away.
“It’s less than a year away so we’re already thinking about it. We’re in a continuous cycle, when the last one ends you start thinking about the next one. I don’t think there’s any time that you’re not thinking about the Olympics,” the Briton said at a post-race press conference.
Speaking about her historic triumph for Britain, Asher-Smith said the future is bright for her country in sprint.
“It feels good because as women in sport we always try and push boundaries and redefine what’s possible, not just British women but Allyson Felix (USA) and Shelly-Ann [Fraser-Pryce (JAM)].
“But we’ve got so many British women sprinters coming up, so we know the future is bright. Hopefully, we’ll see far more British women sprinters on the podium in the future,” she said.
Soon after winning the title, the Briton dedicated her victory to long time coach John Blackie. She was aiming for more medals with the coach.
“I’ve known him since I was eight years old. I didn’t see what he saw but he’s always believed in me and been careful with my progression, to advance me when I needed to be advanced and to hold me back so I could get stronger. So this is dedicated to his persistence, intelligence and wisdom.
“We’ve still got things to work on. I’m still getting stronger and more experienced physically and mentally. So hopefully there’s a lot more to come. It should be an exciting journey,” said Asher Smith.
While the British athlete outclassed her opponents in the final, Team USA’s Brittany Brown ( 22.22) and Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (22.51) were also impressive on Wednesday night to seal podium finish.
Brown, who had to do ‘odd jobs’ to manage her education and training, was ecstatic with her silver medal.
“I moved from California to Iowa to go to college and had to work all sorts of odd jobs. I was a care giver, I worked with people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s, I worked as a waitress. So I grinded.
“To come here and PR twice this week at this meet has been great. My coach and strength coach has seen it coming in practice. I think they saw what I couldn’t see. So now I just tell myself to believe in myself always.
“I train by myself in the mid-West. It’s just me and my coaches. But that doesn’t matter as long you believe in yourself,” said Brown. Bronze-winning Kambundji said it will be amazing to go home with a world championships medal.
“When I was younger I never thought that I would be able to get a medal on the global stage.
When I made my first global final that was unbelievable for me. And when I saw it was possible to get a medal here I was so happy,” the Swiss said.
“I did a good race. I was so often fourth and fifth, or ninth. But sometimes it works and today was good day, so I am very happy,” she added.
