Dina Asher-Smith 🇬🇧 has parted ways with coach Edrick Floreal and returned to London for some training! The decision came after a disappointing 6th-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic.

Dina Asher-Smith 🇬🇧 has parted ways with coach Edrick Floreal and returned to London for some training! The decision came after a disappointing 6th-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic.

 

London, UK — British sprint star Dina Asher-Smith has officially parted ways with her coach, Edrick Floreal, and returned to London, following a turbulent season capped by a disappointing sixth-place finish at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

The split marks the end of a professional partnership that began in 2022, when Asher-Smith moved her training base to the United States in hopes of revitalizing her career and closing the gap on global sprint rivals. Floreal, a highly regarded coach who has previously worked with Olympic and World Championship medalists, oversaw her training while she was based in Austin, Texas.

However, recent performances have failed to meet expectations for the former 200m world champion. Asher-Smith’s 2025 campaign has been plagued by inconsistency and niggling injuries, with the low point arriving at the Prefontaine Classic in late July — her final major race before the World Championships in Tokyo. Her sixth-place finish in the 100m final raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, who noted a lack of her trademark finishing speed and form.

Sources close to Asher-Smith confirmed that the decision to leave Floreal was mutual and amicable, but stemmed from “creative differences” in training philosophy and her desire to “reset mentally and physically” ahead of a crucial 2026 season. While no new coaching arrangement has been officially announced, the 29-year-old has returned to London to handle what her team described as “personal and professional matters,” sparking speculation that she could reunite with her former coach, John Blackie — the man who guided her from teenage prodigy to world champion.

Asher-Smith has not yet made a public statement about the coaching change, but she was spotted training lightly at a private facility in South London earlier this week. Her agent confirmed she is taking “a short period to reassess her goals and training environment,” emphasizing that she remains fully committed to competing at the highest level.

The news comes at a delicate time for British athletics, with the national team preparing for the World Championships and looking to regain its footing on the global stage. Asher-Smith has long been a cornerstone of that effort — the most decorated British female sprinter in history and a role model for aspiring athletes.

Athletics fans and commentators have responded to the news with a mix of concern and support. Many expressed hope that the move back home will help Asher-Smith rediscover the form that made her a global sprinting force between 2018 and 2021.

Whether this shake-up marks a new beginning or a last attempt to reclaim her former dominance, one thing is clear: Dina Asher-Smith isn’t ready to step out of the spotlight just yet.