Dina Asher-Smith is aiming for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and we’re cheering her on every step of the way.
The 28-year-old athlete is the fastest British woman in history and has enjoyed a remarkable career as she dedicates herself to achieving gold for Team GB this year.
But how well do you know her personal life beyond her illustrious track achievements? Here’s a closer look at Dina’s life outside the limelight.
Born in Orpington in December 1995 to parents Julie and Winston Asher-Smith, Dina was active throughout her childhood and joined the Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletic Club at just eight years old.
There, she met her coach, John Blackie, who trained her for 19 years until she moved to Austin, Texas, to work with renowned track and field coach Edrick Floréal. This transition marked a significant change in her career.
In an interview with Grazia magazine, Dina shared, “It was a very big shift for me. I met coach [Floréal], toured the facilities, then went back to London to pack up things. Ten days later, I was living here.”
While Dina trains every day, especially in preparation for major competitions, she has also been able to enjoy life away from athletics, particularly after her move to the United States.
She expressed her newfound interests, stating, “I have become so into pottery and mosaics. I go for a few hours a week.”
She also mentioned that she has taken up golf to help her “switch off,” saying, “I’ve just been going for walks, playing mini golf and Top Golf, and just doing stuff that I wouldn’t necessarily feel super comfortable doing in the UK because I know that my job would be a topic of conversation. Being able to switch off has been one of the best things.”
Regarding her love life, little is known about Dina Asher-Smith’s current relationship status. She was previously in a relationship with fellow athlete and Team GB sprinter Zharnel Hughes, but they ended their relationship in 2018.
Dina described the breakup as amicable, stating, “We are fine, we are still friends. I won’t go into the details because that is personal life, but we are cool, absolutely fine. I am not a celebrity, so I didn’t think it was that much of a big deal to be in the papers.”
Dina Asher-Smith has made history, becoming the first British woman to win a world title in a sprint event in 2019, and she is officially the fastest British woman on record.
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m relay, and she achieved the same result at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. While she has secured multiple gold medals at various world championships, her sights are firmly set on Olympic gold.
She told Grazia, “I’m really pushing myself in every single way – physically, mentally, emotionally – to make sure that when that time comes, I’ll be in the best possible position I can be to make that dream come true.” Despite her drive, Dina emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset.
In an interview, she remarked, “I’m not somebody who carries any kind of baggage. I don’t think that’s a useful way to run.
You have to go into everything with a clean slate. Some people are very motivated by previous frustrations. But I’m somebody who just needs to feel free and light and joyful to run fast.
That’s my mentality. Especially in a year that I’ve changed so much, every single day I have been thinking about the Olympics, more so than anything else. I’m just really excited to get out there and race.”