What athletics has done for me – Dina Asher-Smith
The dropout rates of young athletes are a perennial problem facing just about every sport you can think of.
It is an issue which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, however, and there is particular concern about the potential loss of a wave of talent. It’s a trend which saddens Dina Asher-Smith, given how much athletics has given – and continues to give – her.
Her recruitment pitch to anyone considering a step into the sport is impressive, though.
“The sport has absolutely changed my life – it’s given me so much,” says the 25-year-old. “The thing that’s most in my mind is self-esteem and confidence.
“I’m not trying to say I didn’t have any beforehand – I definitely did – but sport is a place where you have to be very honest with yourself, especially in track and field.
"The sport has absolutely changed my life – it’s given me so much"
“You can say to everybody ‘oh yeah I’ve been training, I’ve been eating well, I’ve been training really hard’ – but when the gun goes, you run and you cross the line there is nowhere to hide.
“The time is going to show you exactly what’s been happening. You can’t lie to yourself, you can’t lie to anybody else so in that regard it is a very honest sport.
“I would say to young people that it’s given me a lot more confidence and it’s made me a lot more direct and up front with everything because, being a sprinter and being an athlete, you can’t bury problems away.
“Also, if you want something you have to go and get it. I’ve got 10 seconds to perform – I don’t have time to be second-guessing whether somebody else is in good shape or not, I don’t have time to be worrying about what the TV cameras are doing, what the crowd is doing… you have to just go and get it and I think that’s something that can be taken outside of sport, as well.”
READ MORE: Dina Asher-Smith interview - "If you don't run fast, nobody cares"
She adds: “I’d always encourage young people to take part in track and field. I’d say there is something for everybody – all body types, taller, shorter. That applies to any discipline as well because, as a sprinter, I’m 5ft 4in whereas there are some girls who are six foot everything and there are some who are smaller than me.
“Don’t be put off because you think ‘oh it might not be for me’ or you don’t think you’d fit in. You would – track and field is for everyone.
“It gives you a lot of life skills but, most importantly, I’d say confidence and the fact that you just can’t hide so you have to confront everything that you might not want to confront all time. Overall in life it teaches you very valuable lessons very quickly.”
Lead photo by Mark Shearman
» Dina Asher-Smith outlines her approach to training and why she is leaving nothing to chance this year in an exclusive interview in the January issue of AW. More from that interview can be read here
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