British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith endured a tough 2022 Championships but is out to put things right at the 2024 European Championships, which serve as valuable preparation ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The 28-year-old also spoke about the magnitude of the European Championships, and how much she enjoys competing in Rome. Asher-Smith will be targeting success in both the 100m and relay.
Dina Asher-Smith is determined to put the disappointment of two years ago behind her by coming back from the 2024 European Championships with a medal.
Asher-Smith finished last in the 100m at the 2022 European Championships after suffering a hamstring injury halfway through the race, missing out on a likely medal having arrived in Munich off the back of winning world bronze in the 200m earlier that year.
It posed a stark contrast from the three golds she won at the 2018 European Championships, despite coming away from Munich with silver in the 200m.
But the 28-year-old is out to put in some big performances ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics and add more silverware to her collection.
“I’m really excited for both the Europeans and the Olympics this year,” she said. “It goes without saying both the Europeans and Olympics are big markers on my calendar this year.
“It’s likely I’ll be just doing the 100m and the relay. The last European Championships I did not have a good one. Long story. It’s done.
“So, I am really excited for these Europeans. I have big goals for myself, very big aspirations of what I want to run, especially when I run the 100m and how I want to run and how I want to win it.
“I came off Eugene (2022 World Athletics Championships) running almost 10.7 and 21 in the semi and getting a global bronze,” she recalls.
“Then I didn’t have a good time in Munich. In hindsight, me and my team know why. I’m not going to go into details. At the time, living it and experiencing it didn’t really make sense for me because I was in like PB [personal best] shape. End of story. It did not go the way I wanted it to, so this time I would like it to go the way I want it to.”
Asher-Smith also arrives in the Eternal City with fond memories of her time on the track as well as the city itself.
And she hopes she can add to the good memories with more success this summer.
“I love Rome, I love doing the Rome Diamond League,” she added. “That stadium is beautiful with all the statues in the warm-up area. I think they just had it resurfaced, and the football stadium is so historic.
“Rome is a beautiful city anyway. Everybody is really excited that the Europeans are in Rome. It’s going to be great.”
“It is one of our favourite championships because track and field is so popular and so loved in Europe.
“When you are inside the stadium at a European Championships, the atmosphere can feel very much like a World Championships, with the passion of the fans and the calibre of the performances. It’s tough. To be a European champion is not easy.”
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