Dina Asher-Smith knew this was going to be hard. Her 100m rivals were always going to push parameters on the greatest stage of all, but the times in the heats as the athletics programme got under way today were so jaw-dropping that the 33-year-old Olympic record is also under threat. After years of waiting and hoping to peak when it matters, the Briton lined up in the opening heat and clocked 11.07sec. She was quick out of the blocks but was overhauled by Teahna Daniels of the USA and finished second. “Of course I do.” She will need it because she was only the joint-11th fastest qualifier for tomorrow’s semi-finals; meanwhile, her rivals have already turned the amp to

Source: The Times July 30, 2021 05:13 UTC