Kent’s Dina Asher-Smith seized her golden opportunity to win the world championship 200 metres on Wednesday and become the first British woman to claim a global sprint title.

With many of the top medal contenders pulling out or skipping the event, Asher-Smith proved the class act in the field, powering home in a national record 21.88 seconds to add gold to the silver she won in the 100m.

“You’re only the favourite if you go out and perform how people expect you to and I was really focussed on putting together a good race,” said Asher-Smith. “I dreamt of this but now it’s real.

“I know I was tired and woke up today knowing this was the last individual chance and this was the moment I did all my work for,” she added.

“This is what we knew we could achieve if the season went well and the tiredness just disappeared when I needed it to. It’s a different thing with everyone saying you’re the favourite but it’s a different thing going and doing it.”

Asher-Smith was focussed on making history, with the 23-year-old from Orpington blasting out of the blocks and in command coming off the bend before cruising to victory.

“I made sure that I remained focus,” said Asher-Smith. “It’s very easy to come here, to be in great shape but to lose focus over something very silly like getting caught up in the moment.

“Whenever I finish a championship, I always want to be able to look back and say I absolutely gave everything that I could have.”

The victory doubled Britain’s medal tally at the championships to two, both coming from Asher-Smith.