Denise Lewis, who won heptathlon gold for Britain at Sydney 2000, told BBC Sport it is that strong will to reach her maximum potential in all aspects of her life that sets her apart.
“She has great prowess for academia and made the decision she wanted to finish university and do athletics too,” the 47-year-old said.
“Dina has always had a great mindset. Her success is not something that has just happened – it’s come as she has evolved. She has always been a determined young lady.”
Olympic 200m silver and world 100m bronze medallist Darren Campbell also recognised that this was an athlete worth investing time and money in, having first met Asher-Smith 10 years ago.
“I set up a school fundraising initiative with the late Todd Bennett, who used to run 400m,” Campbell told the BBC.
“When we were launching the event the first grant we ever gave out was to Dina. So yeah, probably from that meeting you knew that she was a young athlete who had big dreams and I think that is so important.
“We are talking about somebody who will line up against the greatest sprinters that Great Britain has ever produced – the likes of former world and Olympic champion Linford Christie. That’s how special Dina Asher-Smith is.”
