Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Dina Asher-Smith: “I’ve spent four weeks trying to run again”

Written by 
Published in Athletics
Saturday, 31 July 2021 05:29
World champion pulls out of Olympic 200m after revealing she has been battling a serious hamstring injury which almost stopped her reaching Tokyo completely

Dina Asher-Smith has decided not the compete over 200m at the Olympics after revealing a major hamstring injury sustained at the British Championships in June almost completely stopped her from competing in Tokyo at all.

The world 200m champion looked out of sorts after failing to qualify for the women’s 100m final in the Japanese capital on Saturday (July 31), running a time of 11.05 in her semi-final which was just tenth-fastest overall.

The reason for her performance became clear shortly afterwards, however, as an emotional Asher-Smith – who had pulled out of Diamond League events in Stockholm and Gateshead citing a hamstring issue in the build-up – revealed the full extent of her heavily disrupted final weeks of Olympic preparation.

“At the trials I actually pulled my hamstring after 60 metres,” said the 25-year-old, who has confirmed she will still race in  the 4x100m relay, in an emotional interview with the BBC. “I tore it really badly and I was initially told in Manchester that it was a rupture, I would require surgery and it would take three to four months to get back.

“Initially we thought I wouldn’t be able to go to Tokyo so we had a statement ready to go but then thankfully I went and got a second opinion. It was [actually] a slight misdiagnosis. Even though there was still quite a major tear, it wasn’t a rupture, my hamstring was still attached, so we turned over every single stone to make sure that I could stand on the line.

“I’ve gone through the whole thing of ‘oh, I can’t go’ and then ‘okay, there’s a chance’.

“I’m so grateful for everybody that has put so much work in so that I could race here. Obviously I was not my normal self, but it’s been quite a journey so I’m really proud.”

Asher-Smith, who won world 100m silver in Doha two years ago, could not hide her frustration and insisted that, before her injury, she had fully expected to challenge for major honours in Tokyo.

“I think the most frustrating thing for me was the fact that I was in really good shape,” she added. “I was in the shape of my life. About six weeks ago, I was very confident I was going to win this entirely, being completely frank, because I knew that every part of my race – my start, my transition and my finish – was better than some of the fastest women in the world. But, you know, when you get the hurdle of like that, suddenly everything rejigs.

“I’m honestly so proud to have come out here and 11.0 off a week’s worth of sprint training because I’ve spent four weeks trying to run again.”

Before the Games, many observers had seen the 200m as Asher-Smith’s best chance of winning Olympic gold, but – after discussions with her long-time coach John Blackie – the decision to withdraw from that event has been taken.

“I am going to pull out [of the 200m],” she said. “When you’re talking about being the world champion and talking about the standard that I want to be at and that I know I’m capable of … there are plenty more championships to come for me.

“Yes, I got a hamstring tear at the most inconvenient time but it doesn’t really change the fact of the calibre of athlete I actually am.

“John’s told me it’s a no and even though that broke my heart because I’m a competitor, he’s wiser than me.”

Read 401 times

Soccer

Source: Bayern's Müller rejects Cincinnati offer

Source: Bayern's Müller rejects Cincinnati offer

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBayern Munich midfielder/forward Thomas Müller has rejected a contr...

NWSL MVP Tracker: Thompson leads USWNT in ranking, but other internationals dominate

NWSL MVP Tracker: Thompson leads USWNT in ranking, but other internationals dominate

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2025 NWSL season is already five weeks old, which can only mean...

Enzo Fernández: Mastantuono has future in Europe

Enzo Fernández: Mastantuono has future in Europe

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsChelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández believes River Plate teenage sens...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Mavs coach Kidd joins Everton ownership group

Mavs coach Kidd joins Everton ownership group

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNBA Hall of Famer and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has jo...

Sources: Bucks, Horst reach multiyear extension

Sources: Bucks, Horst reach multiyear extension

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Milwaukee Bucks and general manager Jon Horst have agreed to a...

Baseball

Negro Leagues museum seeking $30M expansion

Negro Leagues museum seeking $30M expansion

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard was a rookie with the Philadelphia Phil...

Crow-Armstrong stays hot vs. hometown Dodgers

Crow-Armstrong stays hot vs. hometown Dodgers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- Most players are happy to be done facing the Los Angeles...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated