- The British sprinter is still ‘very disappointed’ over her elimination from the 100 metres at the Olympics
- Dina Asher-Smith was emotional after qualifying for the 200m sprint final
- The Team GB athlete admitted she ran ‘angry’ during Sunday’s qualifying heat
The trail is purple, but Dina Asher-Smith sees red.
The morning after the night before, the British sprinter was still furious about not making it to the 100m final on Saturday.
She also admitted she was ‘angry’ in her 200m heat on Sunday, clocking 22.28 seconds to reach the semi-finals with the third-fastest time of the first round.
Asher-Smith knows there is a unique Olympic medal to be won in this event on Tuesday night, especially since world champion Shericka Jackson withdrew before her preliminary round.
But the 28-year-old also felt a podium finish was achievable in the 100m – and she crashed out after finishing fifth in the semi-final.
Dina Asher-Smith is still furious about not reaching the 100m final on Saturday at the Olympics
The British sprinter admitted she ran ‘angry’ during Sunday’s 200m heat at the Olympic Games
“I was running angry,” the 2019 world champion said after finishing second in her 200m heat behind Nigeria’s Favour Ofili.
‘It was one of the easiest 22.2s I’ve ever run in my life and that’s a testament to the form my coach and I have been working so hard on.
“My body is completely fine. I’m just angry about Saturday. I don’t feel any better emotionally. I’m very upset.”
Asher-Smith’s mood, who nearly burst into tears after her BBC interview, could not have been more contrasting with that of her teammate Daryll Neita.
Asher-Smith is aiming for an individual Olympic medal in the 200m sprint final
Asher-Smith was not at her best as she finished fifth in the 100m sprint semi-final in Paris
She was still on a high on Sunday after finishing fourth in the 100 metres, the best result by a British woman in the event at the Olympics since Dorothy Hyman won silver in 1960.
Neita won her 200m heat with ease in 22.39sec and will also be aiming for a medal in the event, where American Gabby Thomas will start as the favourite and new 100m champion Julien Alfred is also a serious contender. Britain’s Bianca Williams also reached tonight’s semi-finals.
“Coming fourth in the 100m at the Olympics is an incredible achievement,” Neita said. “It’s a bit of a mixed bag because I just missed out on the medals, but it does motivate me.
“It shows that I am truly a medal contender. I am definitely in the shape of my life.”
