British athletics has waited a long time for someone to emulate the achievement of Kathy Cook, who won 200m bronze in the inaugural World Athletics Championships, back in 1983 in Helsinki.
Few showed the potential to do so in the intervening years before Asher-Smith’s emergence. The Kent-born athlete was a double European junior gold medallist in 2013, before taking the world junior 100m title the following year.
She grew in stature when she became the first British women to dip under 11 seconds in 2015 before winning the European 100m title in 2016.
Relay medals followed at world and Olympic level before she won three European golds last year.
Expectations grew of what she could now achieve at world and Olympic level, but prior to this competition Asher-Smith told BBC Sport that she avoided making any predictions public – stating that her aims were only shared by those close to her, including her long-time coach John Blackie.
Her tunnel vision and mental fortitude took her to a different level this season, and she has now been rewarded with world 100m silver.
Asher-Smith is now aiming to win a further two medals – in the 200m and 4x100m relay.
“I think we’ve all got to dare to dream, simply because it’s the championships,” Asher-Smith said of her 200m hopes, with the heats beginning on Monday from 15:05 BST.
“I’m going to go to bed, hopefully get some sleep and turn up in the right state of mind for tomorrow.”
Fraser Pryce, who carried son Zyon on her lap of honour, told BBC Sport: “To be standing here as world champion again after having my baby, I am elated.
“Having my son and coming back, performing the way I did, I hope I can give inspiration to all the women starting a family or thinking of starting a family. You can do anything.”
