Dina Asher-Smith’s former PE teacher says she was a “humble” student who would “get to the finish line and then cheer everyone else on” when she competed at school sports days.
The 23-year-old produced a dominant run to win the 200 metres world title in Doha on Wednesday night, breaking her own British record with a time of 21.88 seconds.
Asher-Smith also won a silver in the 100m on Sunday, and will now be targeting more sprint glory at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer.
Teachers and students at her old high school, Newstead Wood in Orpington, Kent, could not have been happier for her.
“When I found out I was really excited and happy for her.”
Meanwhile, IAAF president Sebastian Coe believes Asher-Smith can be the face of the British team at next year’s Olympics.
Lord Coe told a press conference: “It’s only a short time in your career where you know you will probably win – and the rest of the field know that – and she looks like she has entered that period.
“Careers can sometimes be brutally short but if she can combine a world championship win with an Olympic title it puts her in the top handful of performers.
“There are athletes who love the championships environment. They are trout going up stream. She looks like she is really enjoying it.”
