Tokyo Olympics: Dina Asher-Smith pulls out of the 200m after failing to qualify for 100m final

‘I am so disappointed not to make the final because it’s Tokyo 2020 it’s everything I’ve trained for over the past two years but the last few weeks of my athlete life have been absolutely insane.

‘So I wanted to come and say obviously I’m really proud of Daryll because she’s had a fantastic championships and we thought 10.9 was on the cards for her and she’s done it and made the final and she absolutely deserves it.

‘But I wanted to be completely upfront with everybody on my form and life and just what happened.

‘So I pulled out of both Stockholm and Gateshead, and the last was obviously at home so that was more public because in the trial’s final I pulled my hamstring at 60 metres and I tore it pretty bad. 

‘I was initially told in Manchester that it was a rupture and I would require surgery and it would take three to four months to come back so obviously it kind of was a lot to deal with because quite frankly with that diagnosis you’re like “I can’t go to Tokyo” and we had this whole statement ready to go but then I thankfully got a second opinion and it was a slight misdiagnosis even though there was still quite a major tear but it wasn’t a rupture my hamstring was still attached.

‘So we turned over every single stone to make sure I could stand on the line and obviously through the process I’ve gone through the whole thing of running 10.97 at the trials, tearing my hamstring at 60 and shutting down and then going through the whole thing of ‘I can’t go’ but then there’s a chance.

‘Ultimately as a team and thank you to all my friends and family and obviously, the team that are here. Obviously all the doctors and amazing people in Germany who have worked relentlessly since the trials to get me back on my feet so I could race here today so I am grateful for all the word that I can stand here on the track and do the race tonight.

‘Obviously I wasn’t my normal self but it’s been quite a journey so I am really proud. The most frustrating thing for me I was in the shape of my life and I can say that with my hands on my heart. Six weeks ago I was very confident I can win this. Because I knew every part of my race my start, transition and finish was better than some of the fastest women in the world. But when you get a hurdle like that suddenly everything rejigs.

It’s been a journey and I am so proud to run here an 11.0 after a weeks worth of training. Because I spent four weeks trying to run again.’

On her participation in the 200m final 

‘I think I am likely to pull out of the 200 and…’

Asher Smith then took a moment and looked away from the camera as she started to tear up.

‘Sorry, just because obviously the competitor in me…’

Asher-Smith stops again to take a moment before saying ‘we’ll let the start go and let me cry.’

She then looked away from the camera to watch the start of the next on-track race while trying to compose herself.

‘Okay we’re good. I am likely to pull out, well I am going to pull out I just had the chat with John. Because as a reigning world champion you just… I was in such good shape, you know the Olympic champion is not too much of a further step. 

‘ I don’t want to cry on tv but because of the journey and having three weeks off running, a week running slowly and then the last week trying to get things going and fingers crossed hope for the best.

‘I’m really proud to be able to execute my races and get to this point but when you’re talking about the standard I want to be at and know that I’m capable of there are plenty more championships for me to come and kill.

‘We’re in the middle of a four to five year cycle. And yeah, I got a hamstring tear at the most inconvenient time but it doesn’t change the calibre of athlete I actually am.

‘If I want to showcase that I needed a few more weeks of more power training and speed endurance to fill that gap to when I was trying to run again. 

‘John told me it’s a no and even though that broke my heart because I am a competitor, the 200 I would do it because that’s the athlete I am. But he’s wiser than me and it’s the Olympics but there is another one.’