Asher-Smith failed to reach the final of the 100m and quickly withdrew from the 200m
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith has announced she has pulled out of the Olympic 200m, revealing she suffered a hamstring tear earlier in the month.
The 25-year-old world 200m champion had failed to make the 100m final earlier on Saturday after finishing fourth in her semi-final.
Asher-Smith, who had suffered the injury while at the British Championships, was understandably heartbroken and broke down in tears as she explained her decision to withdraw from the 200m to BBC Sport soon after.
“It broke my heart because I am a competitor,” she said.
“It is the Olympics but there are plenty other championships for me to come and kill.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1421435494693539841
The sprinter had kept her injury away from the press in the run-in to the Games in Tokyo.
She explained that she was proud of reaching the Games despite her injury, but admitted her preparation had been damaged.
“I’m really proud to have been able to execute my races here today and I’m really proud of everything I’ve done to this point,” she said. “But when you’re talking about the standard that I want to be at and know I’m capable of…
“There’s plenty more championships for me to come and kill.”
Related links:
- Team GB claim another gold in the pool with a world record in 4x100m mixed medley relay
- Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare out of Olympics after failed drugs test
