Former Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas is backing Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson to still be at the top of the podium when the Tokyo Olympics are eventually held.

Sprinter Asher-Smith and heptathlete Johnson-Thompson both won golds at last year’s World Championships and were heavy favourites going into this summer’s Olympic Games.

But the coronavirus pandemic has seen them postponed until 2021, which is a huge frustration for athletes who are at their peak.

For some athletes this summer would have represented the end of a four-year cycle and possibly their careers and it is those who Thomas feels the most pain for.

“It’s devastating news for athletes, especially those who might have been coming to the end of their careers and might have seen Tokyo as a great way to say farewell and go out at the top.

“They have now got to decide can they financially and physically put enough in the tank to get ready for next year?”