DOHA (Reuters) – Dina Asher-Smith seized her golden opportunity to win the world championship 200 meters on Wednesday and become the first British woman to claim a global sprint title.
With many of the top medal contenders pulling out or skipping the event, Asher-Smith proved the class act in the field, powering home in a national record 21.88 seconds to add gold to the silver she won in the 100m.
“You’re only the favorite if you go out and perform how people expect you to and I was really focused on putting together a good race,” said Asher-Smith. “I dreamt of this but now it’s real.
“I know I was tired and woke up today knowing this was the last individual chance and this was the moment I did all my work for,” she added.
“This is what we knew we could achieve if the season went well and the tiredness just disappeared when I needed it to. It’s a different thing with everyone saying you’re the favorite but it’s a different thing going and doing it.”
The once mighty United States, who had been a non-factor in the women’s sprints in Doha, also benefited from the scratches as Brittany Brown grabbed the silver in 22.22.
Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji completed the podium by grabbing bronze in 22.51.
The fight for medals was blown wide open when some of sprinting’s biggest names withdrew during the earlier rounds.
The race was missing the reigning world and Olympic champions in Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson who withdrew due to injuries.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Bahamas, owner of the fastest time this season, elected to race the 400m only due to scheduling issues.
