Dina Asher-Smith has handed the Commonwealth Games a major boost by confirming she will race the 100m or 200m as well as the 4x100m relay this summer – a decision that sets up a potential mouthwatering showdown against the Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah.
With the world 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, double Olympic 400m champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, and Tokyo 100m bronze medallist, Shericka Jackson, also expected to travel to Birmingham, one excited Commonwealth Games insider told the Guardian that the “race of the championships” was on the cards.
Asher-Smith had been expected to focus solely on the relay in Birmingham, given her packed schedule also includes the world championships in Eugene and the European championships in Munich. However she told the Guardian that the magic of competing in front of a home crowd, along with a thirst for medals, had persuaded her to shoot for more glory.
“It’s in Birmingham and I love performing in front of a home crowd, so I genuinely want to put my best foot forward in as many events as possible, even though it is a busy summer,” she said.
“I have three titles to defend at the Euros, another at the worlds and a relay medal to retain from the Commonwealths. But the pandemic, and having a bit of a strange one in Tokyo, has made me think: if you’ve got an opportunity to shine, just go and do it.
“We work so hard so we might as well go and put our talents on display and compete. It’s what we love to do and what we’ve been training for since we were eight or 10 years old.”
Asher-Smith said she did not mind who lined up against her, when asked about the potential stacked field of rivals, but admitted: “It’d be great if it was the event of the championships.”
