13 years since the last female winner, four years since any woman even placed on the podium, but now Dina Asher-Smith has finally been recognised for her services to Athletics.

The twenty-four-year-old sprinter won three medals at this year’s World Championships, including a silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m. Asher-Smith also broke the British record in both of these respective events to become the fastest woman in British recorded history. 

Ben Stokes was victorious on the night after winning the public vote, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second and Asher-Smith third. Katarina Johnson-Thompson, another sportswoman nominated yesterday, also for Athletics, failed to place.

The last woman to finish in the top three was Jessica Ennis-Hill in 2015, who has placed four times this decade but never won the award. Zara Tindall was the last female athlete to win the coveted trophy in 2006, after triumphing in the Eventing World Championships.

Whilst Asher-Smith narrowly missed out on the main award, her coach John Blackie was named Coach of the Year after the guiding the sprinter to her World Championship medals. The pair have worked together since Asher-Smith was eight years old at Blackheath and Bromley Harries Athletics Club.

Asher-Smith, who described her coach as her “second dad”, presented Blackie with his award.

“ John deserves this so much”, she said. “He is so inspirational.”

On receiving the award, Blackie said “Dina is very special. She is a pleasure to coach.”

Asher-Smith will be one of Britain’s best medal hopes at next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, and will be looking to add to her existing silverware.