'Needed a bit of fun' - Britain's Dina Asher-Smith admits to unorthodox tool she used to overcome 'anger' following Paris dissapointment

'Needed a bit of fun' - Britain's Dina Asher-Smith admits to unorthodox tool she used to overcome 'anger' following Paris dissapointment

Mark Kinyanjui 11:36 - 07.09.2024

Asher-Smith felt dissapointed in her own individual performances at the Paris 2024 Olympics despite walking home with a silver medal, but has explained how she overcame the blip.

Britain’s sprinting star Dina Asher-Smith has opened up about how she coped with the heartbreak of missing her targets at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

After failing to reach the final in the women’s 100m and finishing a frustrating fourth in the 200m, Asher-Smith found solace in an unexpected way—by going clubbing.

While Team GB secured a silver medal in the 4x100m relay, Asher-Smith had higher expectations for herself, particularly in the individual events. But instead of dwelling on her setbacks, she decided to take a break to recharge mentally and emotionally. 

, “I was very disappointed after the Olympics. Clearly, I am in very good shape, and I was when I ran at the Olympics, but I think it has been kind of really easy,” she admitted afterwards.

Asher-Smith made a remarkable comeback after her brief hiatus. At the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, she stormed to victory in the 100m, clocking an impressive 10.88 seconds. 

This win was followed by another strong showing at the Zurich Diamond League, where she finished third behind Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson, running a time of 10.93 seconds.

Speaking about her journey, Asher-Smith shared how taking time off for herself was a crucial part of her recovery process. “I just took some time for myself to really think and then just attack the season because I am in great shape, and I am injury-free, thank God, and track is fun!” she said after her Lausanne win.

In a candid moment, Asher-Smith also confessed to hitting the club scene to momentarily forget about her Olympic woes. While some might consider it unconventional, she found it to be exactly what she needed.

 “I spent some time at home, did some non-tacky things. I went clubbing. I know I should not say that, but I needed a bit of fun,” she admitted to The Inside Lane.

The sprinter explained how the experience helped her clear her mind and refocus. “When you are frustrated with yourself, sometimes, you just need to not think about it and not lie in bed overthinking. That came into display in Paris, so I just went and had some fun. When you know you are good at this, don’t overthink it, run the race in 10.8,” she added, referencing her stellar performance in Lausanne.

Aside from her time off, Asher-Smith found additional inspiration from a more personal source—attending the wedding of one of her oldest friends. The joyful experience left a lasting impact on her mindset, reigniting her drive on the track. 

“I had to go home. I did not realise how homesick I was until I went home and saw my friends—one of my oldest—get married last week, and it was just so joyful. I think I was just missing that,” she explained.

Reflecting on the importance of these personal moments, Asher-Smith acknowledged how they have positively influenced her performances.

 “When you do something for the first time, you do not always realise how important those things are to your overall aura, and it obviously translates to the track,” she noted.

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