Dina Asher-Smith

Running Close to Glory: The Heartbreak of Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita!

Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita narrowly miss Olympic medals by a whisker in Paris! Find out how close they came to glory!

In a nail-biting finale at the women's 200m in Paris, British sprinters Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita experienced the agony of near victory. With a photo finish separating them from a podium place, it was America’s Brittany Brown who edged out the fierce competition, leaving Asher-Smith and Neita in a heartbreaking fourth and fifth place finish. Just three-hundredths of a second was all that stood between Asher-Smith’s impressive run and a potentially glorious Olympic medal, leading to a bittersweet moment for the star athletes.

Asher-Smith has long been the benchmark of British sprinting, holding two Olympic medals and a staggering six World Championship medals. Her dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence have consistently made her a fan favourite and a prime contender on the track. Meanwhile, Daryll Neita, emerging as a formidable force in sprinting, has also laid the groundwork for a bright athletic future. Their combined efforts in the race not only showcased their incredible speed but also underlined the competitive spirit of Team GB.

Despite the agonising result, Asher-Smith took a moment to reflect on her journey, expressing pride in her performance. "I’m proud of that race. We pushed ourselves to the limit, and though we didn’t clinch a medal, we put our all into it," she explained. The event saw American sprinter Gabby Thomas snatch gold with a stunning time of 21.83 seconds, a feat in itself that echoes the relentless pace of modern athletics.

As the excitement of the race still lingers in the air, Asher-Smith turns her eyes towards the future, particularly the Paris 2024 Olympics. With her proven track record and unwavering determination, there’s no doubt that she will be back stronger than ever. And who knows, with her fierce competitors Neita and Brown in the mix, the next showdown promises to be just as thrilling, if not more so than this year’s contest!

Did you know that Dina Asher-Smith was the first British woman to win a gold medal at the World Championships in 2019? That's quite the landmark achievement! And speaking of fast times, Gabby Thomas not only won Olympic gold but also holds the second-fastest time ever recorded in women's 200m sprinting history at 21.61 seconds. Now that’s a display of sprinting excellence!