Dina Asher-Smith overcame a sluggish start before storming to a second European 100m title.
As thunder cracked above Stadio Olimpico, the British record holder produced a lightning quick finish and as she crossed the line could be seen saying “F*** me” to herself having given herself work to do with a slow opening.
Asher-Smith had served up a European lead of 10.96 in the semi-finals but was slow out of the blocks in the final before finishing in 10.99
And reflecting on finding different ways to win, she said: “I didn't panic in my running, in my head it was a different story. We’ve worked really hard on my technique, my mechanics, my top end speed in training. I'm very grateful for that today. That's not normally my style of race but I'm happy I was able to win.”
It was her first major gold since 2019 and offered some justification for moving to Texas late last year to be coached by Edrick Floreal.
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She added: "I’m in a great place, but when you’ve got a few new things to get your head round sometimes it does take a little bit of time.
"Overall I’m really happy that I’m six to eight months into a new set-up and I’m here putting together performances like this back to back. I know lots of athletes have moved this year and it’s been a very mixed bag of results, but I’m very happy to be on the thumbs up side."
Asher-Smith’s success came five minutes after Georgia Bell took silver in the 1500m, behind Ireland’s Ciara Mageean. Bell, who is on a summer sabbatical from her job in cyber security, had given up on athletics after finishing university.
Dina Asher-Smith, right, finished strongly to win the 100m title in Rome.But she decided to start running again to keep fit during the Covid-19 lockdown and earned her first GB call up aged 30. “The journey has been insane,” she said. “That was the most fun a track race can be. I’m glad I came back to the sport.”
She stopped work at the beginning of May but plans to return when the season ends or potentially after the Olympics. “Work were really fantastic,” she added. “I asked after the World Indoors. Steve Cram did me a solid because on the BBC he said something like Georgia must know if she gives running a good go she has got a good shot.
“And everyone in my work was tuned in so they were like, ‘Ah, maybe she is kind of good and maybe we should support her over the summer.’”
In the women’s steeplechase Lizzie Bird won bronze and also ran an Olympic qualifying time. Earlier, Britain’s first gold of the championships was won by the women’s half marathon team, with Calli Hauger-Thackery taking individual bronze in 1:08:58.
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