![European sprint champion Asher-Smith 'so happy' as she bids for Olympic gold](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/70/d7/7e/European-sprint-champion-Asher-Smit-232616.jpg)
-
Messi a doubt for Argentina ahead of Copa quarter-final
-
British tennis ace Raducanu votes for 'lie-in' on election day
-
France film director Jacquot charged with raping two actors
-
Israel 'evaluating' new Hamas 'ideas' on halting Gaza war
-
Venezuela, US agree to 'improve relations,' says Caracas
-
Under-fire Kenya govt says to review state salary hikes
-
Thousands told to flee raging California wildfire
-
Osaka focuses on Olympics after Wimbledon KO
-
Tens of thousands flee south Gaza as tensions soar
-
US Fed officials stressed 'patience' on rate cuts: minutes
-
Blond not bombs as Fognini learns to love Wimbledon
-
New lithium plant inaugurated in Argentina
-
Threads hits 175 mn users on first anniversary
-
French court says Netflix shark hit can keep streaming in copycat row
-
Comeback king 'Cav' to carry on doing the thing he loves
-
Alcaraz marches on at Wimbledon as Osaka returns to Centre Court
-
Biden under pressure as Democratic panic rises
-
Belarus frees 'some political prisoners': exiled opposition leader
-
Alcaraz coasts into Wimbledon third round
-
Cavendish makes Tour de France history with 35th stage win
-
Everton sign forward Ndiaye from Marseille
-
Bailed Indian opposition leader to return as chief minister
-
World's oldest artwork discovered in Indonesian cave
-
Toney urges England to kick on after Euros reprieve
-
Murray teams up with Raducanu in Wimbledon mixed doubles
-
Former England rugby coach Jack Rowell dies aged 87
-
Hurricane Beryl bears down on Jamaica
-
US trade deficit expands less than expected in May: govt
-
'The god took away my son': Indians grieve after deadly stampede
-
Moscow hit by heat not seen in over a century
-
US private hiring eases unexpectedly in June: ADP
-
Confident Kroos says Germany-Spain clash 'won't be my last game'
-
Paris bars to open 24h for Olympics opening ceremony
-
Putin, Xi vie for influence at Central Asian summit
-
Germany, Sweden arrest eight over Syria crimes against humanity
-
French giant Mpetshi Perricard joins Wimbledon heavy artillery
-
Two-time Major winner Langer to make 'emotional' European Tour bow
-
French PM urges united front to stop far-right takeover
-
Olympic silver medallist gymnast Poujade dies at 51
-
Bhole Baba: preacher at centre of Indian stampede disaster
-
Microsoft to invest 2.2 bn euros in Spain data centres
-
Showdowns, young guns and own goals as Euro 2024 head into quarter-finals
-
Russia advances in east, kills five in Dnipro strikes
-
France prosecutors request rape charges against film director
-
Schumacher blackmail suspects had 'family photos'
-
EU clears Lufthansa's proposed ITA Airways stake, with conditions
-
Indian World Cup winners head home after hurricane delay
-
120,000 'stolen' babies: Georgia's trafficking scandal
-
Only far right can win absolute majority, French PM warns
-
Turkey ride 'best save' and wave of emotion into Euros quarters
![European sprint champion Asher-Smith 'so happy' as she bids for Olympic gold](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/70/d7/7e/European-sprint-champion-Asher-Smit-232616.jpg)
European sprint champion Asher-Smith 'so happy' as she bids for Olympic gold
European 100 metres champion Dina Asher-Smith believes she is well-placed to "create history" as she bids to become the first British woman to win an Olympic sprint gold medal at the upcoming Paris Games.
Asher-Smith showed her class with victory in the 200m at the UK Athletics Championships in Manchester on Sunday.
The 28-year-old sealed her place in the British team for Paris by winning in a championship record time of 22.18 seconds, a performance made all the more creditable given the race was run in cold and wet conditions.
It was another encouraging sign for Asher-Smith following her 100m gold at the European Championships in Rome earlier in June.
Now Asher-Smith is setting her sights on becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic gold in either the 100 or 200m.
"I'm so happy with my performance," said Asher-Smith. "Obviously we're in the north. It's cold, it's wet, it's windy -- much to be expected from Manchester.
"I was honestly just hoping for a healthy race and to qualify for the Olympic Games, but to come through in a season's best when I know that I can run faster when it's a little bit warmer -- it bodes really well.
"I want to be so successful, I want to do myself proud and I want to create history. I'm running great. I'm happy that as we're coming into the crunch time in the season everything's coming together. I'm on track.
"It's not my first rodeo and I'm very excited going into my third Olympic Games in a really good place."
Asher-Smith's buoyant mood is in marked contrast to the disconsolate figure she cut at last year's World Championships in Budapest, where she finished eighth in the 100m final and seventh in the 200m.
She subsequently decided to change coaches, team up with Texas-based Edrick Floreal after parting company with longstanding mentor John Blackie.
"I absolutely adore my previous coach, John. He's a phenomenal coach, a very intelligent man and we've had great success," said Asher-Smith.
"I don't think anything was wrong or broken but sometimes you need change. If you're physically in great shape but things aren't clicking, then you've got to look inwards and think of trying a new environment.
"Edrick is an amazing coach, an amazing technician. I'm having a lot of fun, just learning new things and trying new things.
"I've just found when I'm smiling and just having a great day, I run really fast. I definitely do believe in what I can do."
S.Pimentel--PC