Dina Asher-Smith has called for more realistic female role models in sport — not just people “holding a bouquet of flowers or smiling and being polite.”
The world champion sprinter, 25, said it was important for girls to see “female athletes sweating, getting frustrated” because that was the reality of top-tier sport.
Her comments, in the latest edition of Vogue, come as the Olympic flame arrived in Tokyo after organisers announced that spectators would be banned.
Asher-Smith said it was important to show sport “can be a career path” to find the best new talent.
The runner, from Orpington, said: “Girls need to see female athletes throwing their shoes on the floor because they’re annoyed — not just smiling and being polite.”
See the full feature in the August issue of British Vogue.
