Dina Asher-Smith made a stunning return to competition in her first race since becoming world 200 metres champion in 2019.
Britain’s fastest ever woman clocked a world lead 7.08 seconds to win the 60m at the World Indoor Tour opener in Karlsruhe.
Victory earned her $10,000 dollars and a wildcard to next year’s World Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
More importantly it confirmed that 15 months out has not dulled her powers ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
In her first race indoors since 2018 she clocked 7.11secs to make the final where she equalled her personal best and was just 0.02 off Asha Philip’s British record.
Asher-Smith said: “I’m really happy with that. It had been a long time since I competed on the international stage but I wasn’t scared, more excited.
“It’s been so long. I love racing, I love sprinting. It’s what I’m good at.
"I wasn’t really worried I’d be rusty though I do probably have a bit more sharpening up to do."
Asher-Smith moves on to Dusseldorf for her next race tomorrow as she builds towards the Olympics, where Team GB have learned they will be limited to the Athletes’ Village and competition venues - but won’t have to quarantine on arrival in Tokyo.
So said John Coates, vice-president International Olympic Committee (IOC), in an interview with Sky News Australia .
Organisers will outline full details in “playbooks” expected to outline that participants must undergo a period of quarantine before travelling to Tokyo, - and the be subject to testing every four days whilst at the Games.
Coates added: ”They will be limited to the Olympic Village and transport to their venue for competition and training. That’s it. No going downtown.”
Meanwhile, British athletics chiefs have drawn up contingency plans to enable athletes to qualify and gain selection for the European Indoor Championships following the cancellation of the British Champs.
Trials will be held at Lee Valley, Loughborough and either Sheffield or Manchester over the weekend of Feb 20-21.
