Dina Asher-Smith’s victory in the European 100-meter championship set a precedent for the Olympics in Paris.
The British sprint sensation won gold by almost missing the 11-second barrier in the final, having set a continental record in the semi-finals in Rome this year with a time of 10.96 seconds.
After a slow start and a significant deficit at the halfway point, Asher-Smith rallied to win her first European crown since 2018.
It proves Asher-Smith is back on the right road, but the 28-year-old still has work to do to match the top Americans and Jamaicans.
Elaine Thompson-Herah, the five-time Olympic gold medallist who had won the 100 meters in the previous two Games, had to be helped off the track in New York due to an injury on the same day as her victory.
“At the beginning I was like, ‘oopsy daisy,’ but I definitely picked up and I was really happy to have closed really fast and got it,” Asher-Smith said in an interview with British Athletics.
“I realize that my situation is excellent. It’s enjoyable to run sub-11 today in two distinct ways. I have a lot of confidence. My body feels terrific, my training is going well, and I’m enjoying myself.
Behind ecstatic Irishwoman Ciara Mageean, Georgia Bell won a magnificent silver in the women’s 1500m.
At thirty, Bell—who had raced at a high level in duathlon but had lost interest in the sport—won her first international medal.
Friend Jemma Reekie, a British athlete, led for almost the whole race until losing momentum in the final straight and finishing fifth.
In the women’s half-marathon team competition, Britain won their first gold medal of the day as Calli Hauger-Thackery took home the individual bronze.
Lizzie Bird felt she had equaled her two-year-ago accomplishment on Sunday night when she won bronze in the women’s steeplechase. However, after France’s Alice Finot, who crossed the finish line first, was disqualified, her bronze was changed to silver, pending a successful appeal.
In the men’s 800m and women’s high jump, Elliot Giles and Morgan Lake were unable to secure medals; in the men’s hammer, Jake Norris finished in tenth place. Charlie Dobson appears to be a serious contender for the gold in the men’s 400m after winning his semi-final in a time of 44.65 seconds. Laviai Nielsen advanced to the women’s event final.
