Dina Asher-Smith (History, 2017) is a sprinter who holds the British records in both the 100 and 200 metres. She came through the King’s Sport Performance Athlete programme, which supports student athletes competing at an elite level.

Dina was born and raised in Orpington, London, and is a member of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletic Club. She showed early promise as a sprinter, winning the English Schools Championships 200 metre title as an Under 15 (2010), Under 17 (2011) and Under 20 (2013) and taking home gold medals in the 200 metres and the 4x100 metre relay at the European Junior Championships in 2013.

Dina was the youngest athlete selected for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Squad at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. She didn’t disappoint, helping the 4 x 100 metre relay team take home a bronze medal. One year later, she was celebrating the A-level results that gained her a place to study History at King’s.

With support from the university, Dina was able to continue progressing as an athlete whilst attaining her degree. Successes included becoming the fastest teenager in history at the 2015 World Championships, winning gold in the 200 metres at the 2016 European Championships, and medalling as part of the 4x100 metre relay team at the 2016 European Championships, the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships. In 2017 she also celebrated graduating from her history degree at King's.

In 2018 Dina achieved her greatest sprinting success to date, taking home a gold medal treble in the European Championships. She ran world leading times in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay, the last alongside current King’s Psychology student Imani Lansiquot.

Did you know? A big music fan, Dina wrote her dissertation on the history of jazz music, focussing on Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

Callum Hunter-Hill

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