This is what it takes to be a gold medal sprinter | Dina Asher-Smith

The attention after winning gold in Doha was amazing – but success really begins by staying focusedI love being the hunter. The one in pursuit. In training, I ’ll latch on to the boys and chase them down. Even when I was younger, I tended to race girls who were older than me – at 17 I was racing 30-year-olds. It’s where I’m comfortable. But the hunter can go on to become the hunted. And this summer at theWorld Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, I won gold in the 200m. At 23, I became the first British woman to win a world championship sprinting title.I had no idea there was so much excitement back in the UK after my win. Growing up in Orpington, southeast London, and training for years with theBlackheath& Bromley Harriers, I never once imagined the fuss that would come as a result of running fast. It ’s a change I’ve had to mentally adjust to. The morning after the race, I was in the media tent and someone told me that I’d been mentioned in parliament and while that was, of course, lovely and exciting, I was so surprised. But I often have to separate myself from all the noise to keep focus ed on what’s most important to me.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - December 15, 2019 Category: Science Authors: As told to Candice Pires Tags: Dina Asher-Smith Olympic Games Athletics Psychology Sport Science Running Health & wellbeing Life and style Source Type: news