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Dina Asher-Smith claims 200m gold at World Athletics Championships in Doha

Dina Asher-Smith leaves her rivals behind to claim the gold medal. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Dina Asher-Smith leaves her rivals behind to claim the gold medal. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Dina Asher-Smith is the new 200m world champion after winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Doha.

Asher-Smith ran a time of 21.88 - a new national record - to finish ahead of USA’s Brittany Brown in second and Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland in third.

Having already claimed silver in the 100m, the 23-year-old becomes the first British woman to win a World Championship individual sprint title.

It was an impressive run from the Londoner who got off to a fantastic start out of the block, building a lead as she accelerated round the bend.

With a burst to stay ahead in the final 100m, the chasing pack could only look on as Asher-Smith crossed the line to make athletics history.

Asher-Smith already ran a British record 10.83 in the 100m final at the weekend, despite finishing second to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

In picking up the silver medal, she became the first woman to win a sprint prize for 36 years before going one better in the 200m.

Having qualified for the final with a time of 22.16 seconds - the fastest time of the day and faster than the personal bests of every other finalist - Asher-Smith was the overwhelming favourite and didn’t disappoint.

“I don't know what to say, I don't think it's properly sunk in.” She told BBC Sport immediately after the race. “I woke up today thinking ‘this is it. This is the moment you did all your work for’. The tiredness disappeared.

“All the support means so much. For my mum, my dad and his wife to be here, it means so much.

“I'm lost for words. I dreamt of this and now it's real.”