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A golden redemption? On the basis of Dina Asher-Smith’s return to the scene of such misery, it suddenly appears quite possible that she might yet take something shiny away from these Olympics.
It has been a rotten trip for Asher-Smith, who arrived at the Games out of condition after a hamstring injury, and it has been largely underwhelming for a wider squad of 75 that has been exposed far too often here for its lack of elite-level compatibility.
But an exciting chance for a happier ending will present itself in the women’s 4x100m relay final on Friday, in which Asher-Smith, Asha Philip, Daryll Neita and Imani-Lara Lansiquot will be among the favourites.
Dina Asher-Smith (centre left) is eyeing a medal in Friday's 4x100m relay final alongside Asha Philip (left), Daryll Neita (right) and Imani-Lara Lansiquot (centre right)
That status can be derived both from Asher-Smith’s continued involvement in the team, and by extension how they performed in setting a national record of 41.55sec to win their heat, which included the US and Jamaica.
If there has been any hangover from Asher-Smith’s 100m heartbreak and her decision to withdraw from the 200m, then it wasn’t obvious in a smooth run in the third leg. By then Philip and Lansiquot had opened a lead, Asher-Smith expanded it and Neita, a 100m finalist, sealed the victory.
Asher-Smith, who won bronze in the discipline with Neita and Philip at Rio 2016, said: ‘That is where my head has been for the past week. It hasn’t been about the 100m or 200m.
'It has been about me getting back on the training track and making sure
