Dina-Asher Smith is one of the biggest contenders to win the 200m gold in this year’s Paris Olympics. After not being able to make the 100m final, she has fully dedicated herself to achieving victory in the 200m. She completed the race in 22.31 seconds to finish second and automatically qualify for the finals. Gabby Thomas, her archrival, finished first with 21.86 seconds. While Thomas is touted as the favorite to win the gold, Asher-Smith is not going to make it easy for her at all. After the race, she said, “It was good because I didn’t use much energy. I’m saving what I can for tomorrow.”

While there is some bad blood with Thomas because of her victories in the Diamond League, Asher-Smith shouldn’t let it affect her preparation. It is already an arduous task training to win the gold medal. Concentrating on personal grudges will do her no good at all. The Great Britain star has also made a lot of changes in her training regime and coaching for her to reach here. Let’s learn more about her coaching here-

Dina Asher-Smith splits from her long-time coach John Blackie

Nine months before the Paris Olympics, Dina Asher-Smith split with her long time coach John Blackie. Their association started when she was merely eight years old and had enrolled in the Black Heath and Bromley Harriers athletic club. Blackie used to be the trainer there and saw potential in her. Thus, he coached and moulded her into the track star she is today. He lead her to numerous highs, which included six medals in the world Championships- including one gold and eight medals in the European Championship, which included six gold medals. Under him, she also won the bronze medal in both Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Thus, it raised many eyebrows when she decided to part ways with him.

She posted the announcement on her Instagram page and said,- “After 19 years, John Blackie and I have ended our coach-athlete partnership,” She continued saying, “His intellect, patience and dedication has taken me from an energetic eight-year-old to a world champion with over 20 international medals and many Olympics, World, Commonwealth and European finals.” She finally clarified that there was no animosity between them and they’d still be close friends.

The track star also announced her new coach which was Edrick Floreal from Texas. Her decision to leave Blackie was also due to her gradual decline in form under him. Asher-Smith soon moved into the United States and started training under him. Since then, she has said that she’s enjoying this new phase in her career, post her move to US and hopes to win the medal. Let’s hope this move pays off for her sake.

What are the shortest track records of Dina Asher-Smith

Dina Asher-Smith has always been fond of breaking records. At 13, she would run 300m in 39.16 seconds to take the world record in that age group. She has won the English school championships in all categories which are under 15, under 17 and under 20. In 2015, she became the first British women in thirty years to win a medal in the European indoor Championships. She had won the silver medal in the 60m race.

This race would also lead her to become the fastest ever teenager at 60m. She then set the British record for 100m with 11.02 seconds. Only two months later would she improve on her own record after a 10.99 second finish. She currently holds the British record for the same with a time of 10.83 seconds after improving on it three times. Asher-Smith also holds the record for the fastest 200m in her country with 21.88 seconds. She’s one of the major hopes for Britain’s Olympics aspirations. With their iron-clad support and backing, there’s no telling what this young buck will do.