- Dina Asher-Smith expressed her disappointment after not qualifying for the women’s 100m event
- Asher-Smith will not continue in the competition following her fifth-place result in the semi-finals
Dina Asher-Smith stated she was ‘extremely shocked’ after once again missing out on the Olympic 100 metres final.
Three years earlier in Tokyo, the British record holder was in tears after being eliminated in the semi-finals, having revealed she had injured her hamstring before the Games.
However, on Saturday night, she made no excuses after finishing fifth in her semi-final with a time of 11.10 seconds, which is significantly slower than her personal best of 10.83 seconds set when she won a world silver medal in 2019.
‘I am incredibly shocked,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘The Olympics occur only once every four years, so I feel very disappointed.’
‘I genuinely expected to reach the final. My training has been superb, I feel great physically, and mentally I am in a good place. But in sports, you must deliver in the moment.’
Dina Asher-Smith was ‘fully disappointed’ after failing to qualify for the women’s 100m
Asher-Smith wasn’t at her best as she finished in fifth place in the semi-finals in France
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica didn’t take part in the semi-finals as she withdrew
Asher-Smith’s semi-final was the slowest of the three heats on Saturday night, with American Melissa Jefferson winning it in just 10.99 seconds.
Her disappointing performance came after an encouraging season, where she claimed victory at the European Championships in Rome in June, having moved to train in the United States at the end of the previous year.
‘The race wasn’t fast; it was certainly a manageable time,’ Asher-Smith remarked. ‘Regardless of whether the time is outstanding or not, it’s just frustrating. I know I should have delivered today.’
Asher-Smith will return to the track this morning for the first round of the 200m, which could lead to a final on Tuesday night.
When asked if Saturday’s disappointment motivated her to excel in the 200m, an event she won her world title in five years ago, she responded: ‘Absolutely. It’s now on to the 200m, and I’m looking forward to tackling it.’
