Agency :
Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heptathlon gold medal on ‘Super Saturday’ at the 2012 Olympics inspired a young kit carrier that night to pursue her dream of becoming a champion — on Wednesday it came true for Dina Asher-Smith.
The 23-year-old wrote another page in British athletics history by delivering their first world gold in the 100/200 metres as she produced a dominant performance in the 200 to win in a new national record of 21.88 seconds.
Asher-Smith said in the past standing in the Olympic Stadium and watching Ennis-Hill — who was one of three British victors that night along with Greg Rutherford in the long jump and Mo Farah in the 10,000m — inspired her to want to enjoy similar success.
Thus it gave exra satisfaction for the erudite Asher-Smith — who achieved a history degree whilst she was also focusing on her athletics career — her first global title comes at the same age as both her British idols Ennis-Hill (2009 world title) and 400 metres star Christine Ohuruogu (2007 world title).
“It means a lot to be even mentioned in the same sentence,” said Asher-Smith at the medallists press conference.
“It is no secret that I admire Jess and Christine immensely.
“What they achieved is an inspiration to me and to other women. Chrissie has even been texting me every day giving me encouragement.”
Asher-Smith has come a long way since she had to be bribed with the offer of an ice cream by her parents — who were in the crowd at the Khalifa Stadium — to keep going in a cross country race at primary school.
However, she is now seen as a trailblazer for British women in sprinting, though, she liked to see it as a broader picture than that.
“It feels good,” she said.
“In many walks of life women try and push boundaries and redefine what is possible”.
Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heptathlon gold medal on ‘Super Saturday’ at the 2012 Olympics inspired a young kit carrier that night to pursue her dream of becoming a champion — on Wednesday it came true for Dina Asher-Smith.
The 23-year-old wrote another page in British athletics history by delivering their first world gold in the 100/200 metres as she produced a dominant performance in the 200 to win in a new national record of 21.88 seconds.
Asher-Smith said in the past standing in the Olympic Stadium and watching Ennis-Hill — who was one of three British victors that night along with Greg Rutherford in the long jump and Mo Farah in the 10,000m — inspired her to want to enjoy similar success.
Thus it gave exra satisfaction for the erudite Asher-Smith — who achieved a history degree whilst she was also focusing on her athletics career — her first global title comes at the same age as both her British idols Ennis-Hill (2009 world title) and 400 metres star Christine Ohuruogu (2007 world title).
“It means a lot to be even mentioned in the same sentence,” said Asher-Smith at the medallists press conference.
“It is no secret that I admire Jess and Christine immensely.
“What they achieved is an inspiration to me and to other women. Chrissie has even been texting me every day giving me encouragement.”
Asher-Smith has come a long way since she had to be bribed with the offer of an ice cream by her parents — who were in the crowd at the Khalifa Stadium — to keep going in a cross country race at primary school.
However, she is now seen as a trailblazer for British women in sprinting, though, she liked to see it as a broader picture than that.
“It feels good,” she said.
“In many walks of life women try and push boundaries and redefine what is possible”.
