Dina Asher-Smith
(Picture: BBC)Team GB sprinter Dina Asher-Smith has received an outpouring of support after a hamstring injury made her pull out of the 200m race.
Speaking to the BBC, the reigning world champion said her coach had advised her to pull out of the race after she sustained the injury and failed to qualify for the 100m final earlier in the day.
In a tearful interview she said:
“It broke my heart because I am a competitor. It is the Olympics but there are plenty other championships for me to come and kill.
“I’m so grateful to everybody who worked so I could stand here on the track and race here tonight.
Heart-breaking for Dina 😭
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2021
Following a hamstring injury leading into the Games, and narrowly missing out on the 100m final, Dina Asher-Smith is pulling out of the 200m
❤️ But, there's plenty more championships for her to come and kill ❤️#bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/OXTcYM2bHE
“Obviously I was not my normal self, but it has been quite a journey, so I’m really proud. The most frustrating thing is I was in the shape of my life - and I can say that with my hand on my heart.
“If you had asked me six weeks ago, I was confident I was going to win this entire thing.
“I knew every part of my race - my start, transition and finish. They were better than some of the fastest women in the world.
“I am going to pull out, and that is the one as reigning world champion - you know that Olympic champion isn’t that much of a further step.
“It doesn’t change the calibre of the athlete that I am and I know that if I want to showcase that I just need a few more weeks of power training, a bit more speed endurance to fill that gap of when I was trying to walk again.”
Reacting to her pain, people were quick to express their support for the athlete:
Dina Asher-Smith confirming she’s injured - tore her hamstring last month so she’s been running injured. She shouldn’t be competing, she should feel comfortable enough to put herself first but given recent events, I can only imagine the fear she felt in doing so 💔 #Olympics
— Lillian (@LillzTIL) July 31, 2021
Saddest interview I think I've ever watched. Poor Dina 💔❤️
— 🇬🇧 Nick 🇬🇧 (@TrackFan666) July 31, 2021
Poor Dina Asher Smith
— Ian Goldsworthy (@Ian_Goldsworthy) July 31, 2021
Desperately sad to get an injury when she has
Super brave and honest interview #bbcolympics
Wow! Daryll Neita into the Olympic 100m final by 0.001s!!
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownSport) July 31, 2021
Does not get any closer than that!
Poor Dina, that’s the first time she’s failed to make a championship final at any level. Gutted for her 😩😩😭😭
This was a tough interview to watch. Poor Dina. https://t.co/m6e7NNm6op
— Fergal Crossan (@Fergal_Crossan) July 31, 2021
Poor Dina Asher-Smith. She asks to pause interview because she needs to cry and as she turns away for a moment of privacy, the camera operator zooms in on her face. Esp after what happened in the Euros, the norms around camera operation need to be reviewed. #Tokyo2020 #BBCsport
— reallyquitetired (@rllyquitetired) July 31, 2021
imagine Blessing would race… poor Dina would be out already 😭
— Luca (@SluggishLuca) July 31, 2021
We wish her a speedy recovery.
