Dina Asher-Smith in action at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London (© Getty Images)
Britain’s fastest woman Dina Asher-Smith believes that the Müller Anniversary Games will have major significance in terms of this year’s IAAF World Championships, and hopes to have the perfect send-off at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London on Sunday 9 July.
The world’s top stars will be in London for the Müller Anniversary Games in what will be the final race for many athletes ahead of the IAAF World Championships, which will be held in the same London Stadium just four weeks later. Asher-Smith believes that the event is crucial to her season.
“I want to do well at the IAAF World Championships and the Müller Anniversary Games is a key part of my preparations this year,” said Asher-Smith. “I will face the best athletes in the world in my final race in the Olympic Stadium before heading into the holding camp. It would be great to see as many fans as possible cheering the British athletes at the Muller Anniversary Games on 9 July.”
The European 200m champion, who earned the 4x100m bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is currently recovering from a foot injury and is determined to fight back and be at her best when she competes in London this summer.
At a recent ‘show your true colours’ red, white and blue photo shoot, with relay teammates Asha Philip, Desiree Henry and Daryll Neita, Asher-Smith spoke about the positive effect of a home crowd on athlete performance.
“Competing at the Müller Anniversary Games in front of a British crowd will really fire up our athletes ahead of the World Championships,” she said. “The British fans are the best in the world. It means so much to us when we look up and see masses of red, white and blue in the stands and the noise of the crowd is unbelievable. It really does help us raise our game.”
Asher-Smith will be one of a host of star names at the Müller Anniversary Games and believes the event will be even more spectacular than in previous years.
“This year will be the best event yet,” she said. “Everyone will be in top shape and will want to get a feel for the track they’ll compete on when the World Championships begin. I am sure there’ll be some outstanding performances.”
Organisers for the IAAF
2017 IAAF Diamond League calendar
5 May – Doha, QAT
13 May – Shanghai, CHN
27 May – Eugene, USA
8 Jun – Rome, ITA
15 Jun – Oslo, NOR
18 Jun – Stockholm, SWE
1 Jul – Paris, FRA
6 Jul – Lausanne, SUI
9 Jul – London, GBR
16 Jul – Rabat, MAR
21 Jul – Monaco, MON
20 Aug – Birmingham, GBR
24 Aug – Zurich, SUI
1 Sep – Brussels, BEL
