Triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith still doubts herself despite success
The Briton’s victories in Germany last year have increased the expectations hanging over her
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Your support makes all the difference.Triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith still doubts herself despite her success.
The 23-year-old will run in the Diamond League 100 metres at the Anniversary Games on Sunday.
Asher-Smith won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the European Championships in Berlin last year and is counting down to the World Championships in Doha, which start in September.
Her victories in Germany have increased expectation levels and the British 100m and 200m record holder is using that to her advantage after conceding she sometimes lacks belief.
She said: “I’ve actually used some of their expectations to give me more confidence as well. Sometimes I do tell myself, ‘you can’t, you can’t’, when really I should be telling myself I can. So I have taken some of other people’s energy and put it into myself as well.
“Some people would get overwhelmed. For me I think it’s nice in all honesty, for people to think I can go on to do great things.
“Doing well against these kinds of women would always be fantastic but I never have the mentality of having to prove myself. I just don’t go into races like that.
“I know that, come the Worlds, I’ll hopefully be in fantastic shape and the work I’ve done will be put me in good shape.
“But I never feel at any given moment you have to prove something. Everyone’s in different stages with their preparation. It is a long season. I’ll be peaking for my trials at the end of August.”
Katarina Johnson-Thompson races in the 200m before competing in Sunday’s long jump and European champion Zharnel Hughes will run in the men’s Diamond League 100m which is Saturday’s flagship event.
Laura Muir goes in the 1500m Diamond League final on Saturday.
The Scot is also gearing up for the World Championships and has one eye on next year’s Olympics in Tokyo.
She said: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Whatever happens happens. If I am at where I am now next year I’ll be in a very good place but sport is so unpredictable.
“Andy (Young, coach) has given me the coaching to be in the best place I can be. I feel like if I’m in the same place next year and I’ll be in a good spot.”
PA
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