Dina Asher-Smith is to sprinkle stardust on the Commonwealth Games after confirming she will represent England in Birmingham.
With Olympic champions Max Whitlock and Tom Daley set to miss the 11-day multi-sport showpiece, the participation of Britain’s fastest ever woman is a big fillip for organisers.
The 26-year old revealed last night that the chance to compete in a ‘home’ championships at the peak of her powers was too great a lure to resist - even though the Games come just four days after the Worlds in the US.
“I was a kit box carrier on Super Saturday at the London Olympics and saw Jess [Ennis-Hill] achieve an incredible feat,” she said.
“I missed the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 as I was at the World Juniors and I was fourth in the 2017 Worlds in London.
“So I can’t wait for Birmingham. London was absolutely phenomenal and to have family, friends and so many other people who are invested in my journey able to come will be very special.”
Asher-Smith admitted the challenge of trying to hold her peak for six weeks in order to defend her five titles across three championships was quite a challenge.
But she added: “Life is so short and I just think every race that we have and every race that you’re healthy for, you should just grab and really go for it.”
In Rome on Thursday night, she clocked her best 200m time of the year to show she has put behind her the disappointment of last summer’s injury-wrecked Olympics.
Her time of 22.27 seconds improved on her season opener in Doha and she has two races still to come before putting her world title on the start line in Eugene.
“I won’t go into it but it’s been a personally challenging kind of time for me, so I was happy I ran in Doha,” she said.
“I made a few mistakes there, my mind was elsewhere, so it was important for me to go to Rome and make sure I did not make those mistakes again, which I didn’t.
“With a month or so still to go I feel that anything is possible.”
