• World champion looking forward to another big test on the eve of the Olympics
• Wanda Diamond League event was originally due to be held at the London Stadium

British sprints star Dina Asher-Smith (coach: John Blackie; club: Blackheath & Bromley) will fine-tune her preparations for the Olympic Games when she races over 200 metres in the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead on Tuesday 13^th July.

The world champion was clearly not put off by the wet and windy weather at the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead last Sunday when she beat a world-class line-up in the 100m. Asher-Smith, 25, is keen to come back to the same venue later this summer for a competition that will fall just before her departure to Tokyo.

Asher-smith said: “I’m really excited to return to Gateshead on July 13 for the Müller British Grand Prix. Hopefully we will be allowed to have more fans in the stadium and the athletes will get a great send off before they go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“My first 100m of 2021 last weekend was against some tough opposition and I’m expecting it to be another exciting race when I go back there in a few weeks’ time.”

The event on 13^th July was originally due to be held at the London Stadium but has been moved to Gateshead International Stadium due to the repercussions of the pandemic and after an agreement was reached between UK Athletics and the London Legacy Development Corporation.

Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Councillor Angela Douglas, said: “We are delighted that athletics will return to Gateshead International Stadium this summer with the Müller British Grand Prix. This is fantastic news for Gateshead and a ringing endorsement of our long-established reputation for hosting major international sporting events.

“It is such a brilliant opportunity to celebrate our great passion for sport in the region and for spectators to get up close to all the action. We look forward to supporting the athletes on their journey to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.”

After successfully welcoming back 2,000 spectators at the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead last weekend (23rd May), British Athletics are hopeful more fans will be able to safely return to the stadium for the Müller British Grand Prix on 13th July.

Ticket information will be available soon at www.britishathletics.org.uk

Photo Credit: Matthew Quine / Wanda Diamond League