London World Athletics Championships 2017: Local sprinting star Dina Asher-Smith urges fans to snap up tickets for chance to witness history
Britain’s fastest woman Dina Asher-Smith expects history to be made in London next summer when the capital hosts the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
The first British woman to run the 100m in under 11 seconds is hoping to be on the track alongside inspiration Usain Bolt who is planning to make the nine day event his farewell.
And after attending the premiere of “I Am Bolt”, a new film looking at the Jamaican sprinter’s record-breaking career, Asher-Smith will watch the icon bow out of the sport with a new-found appreciation for the gruelling work he puts in behind the scenes.
“What I thought was really insightful was how he talked about how he had to keep on motivating himself,” Asher-Smith told City A.M.
“When you’ve won everything, got everything, you’re the best in the world your biggest rival is yourself. You need this willingness to keep pushing when you’re the greatest.
“At London 2017 you can go there and just kind of marvel at people who have sacrificed so much and are just so hungry.”
Asher-Smith (2nd from left) won her first Olympic medal in Rio (Source: Getty)
More than 100,000 new tickets for the event were released today, with tickets to all the biggest sprint races available but selling fast.
“Hopefully I’ll be there in a different way to being in the crowd,” says Asher-Smith. “But it being Usain’s last championship, it will be one of those historic moments that you really want to be there for.”
The 20-year-old has seen history being made at the London Stadium before when she worked as a kit carrier at the 2012 Olympics.
In the years since, her sprinting career has taken off with a velocity befitting of her chosen discipline. And despite notching a bronze medal in the 4x100m and a fifth-placed finish in her first Olympics this summer, the work to go even better in London next summer has already begun.
“Athletics is one of those sports that even though I run for 11 seconds, it requires dedication all year round,” says the Islington-born sprinter.
“Me being the fastest woman in Britain, it could change at any point. There are so many girls running quickly, it just takes them having a good day and that’s gone. Medals are the things that stay forever.
“There’s loads and loads of new talent coming through, that means loads and loads of opportunities for developing athletes of similar age to myself to make names for themselves. Being at London 2017 you’re going to get the first glimpse of a new generation.”
More than 100,000 tickets to the IAAF World Championships London 2017 are now on sale on a first come, first served basis. Limited availability tickets across all 14 sessions are available including 'The Bolt' £9.58 ticket for children. Don't miss out! Buy now from tickets.london2017athletics.com