Tokyo 2020: Dina Asher-Smith withdraws from 200m

Team GB’s Dina Asher-Smith has withdrawn from the women’s 200m after suffering a hamstring tear.

The athlete was as a potential gold-medal hope for the event, but the injury – sustained at the British Championships – has made her appearance impossible.

Asher-Smith had sought medical advice about her appearance at Tokyo 2020, and opted to try and compete.

However, she failed to make the 100m final, and has now decided to withdraw from the 200m event too.

In an interview after the announcement, Asher-Smith said: “I’m so grateful to everybody who worked so I could stand here on the track and race here tonight.

“Obviously I was not my normal self, but it has been quite a journey, so I’m really proud. The most frustrating thing is I was in the shape of my life – and I can say that with my hand on my heart.

“If you had asked me six weeks ago, I was confident I was going to win this entire thing.

“I knew every part of my race – my start, transition and finish. They were better than some of the fastest women in the world.

“I am going to pull out, and that is the one as reigning world champion – you know that Olympic champion isn’t that much of a further step.

“It doesn’t change the calibre of the athlete that I am and I know that if I want to showcase that I just need a few more weeks of power training, a bit more speed endurance to fill that gap of when I was trying to walk again.”

There is stiff competition in the 200m event, with the US’ Gabrielle Thomas and Jamaica’s Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shaunae Miller-Uibo all expected to make the final and touted as potential winners.

Asher-Smith might still compete again at Tokyo 2020, however, as she did not rule out racing in the women’s 4x100m relay.