Tearful rather than triumphant in the manner she had fully expected to be, Dina Asher-Smith’s journey to Tokyo more befitted a hurdler than a supreme sprinter, with barriers to leap over and the risk that her challenge could crash at high speed.

The 25-year-old lined up at these Olympics, as it turned out, more in hope than expectation due to a tear to her hamstring sustained at the British trials in Manchester four weeks ago. Third in yesterday’s women’s 100 metres semi-final in a time of 11.05 secs that was well adrift of her UK record, she subsequently withdrew from a quest to add 200m gold to the world title she already possesses.

A chance remains that she can be fit enough to compete in the women’s 4x100 relay next weekend. These Games came too soon. The ticking clock has been the soundtrack to an emotional pummelling that saw her ambitions erased, only for a second opinion from renowned German doctor Hans Müller-Wohlfahrt provide renewed hope.

“I was on crutches, off crutches, learning how to fully extend it again, walk, drills, jog, run. We're counting down,” she recounted. “We came back to the UK as it was time to fly to Tokyo. I came on the 20th, put on spikes on the 21st, and said let’s go. It's been a crazy, intense and heart-breaking period. I was in the shape of my life.”

In her absence, a Jamaican 1-2-3 in the 100m final saw Elaine Thompson-Herah produce the second-quickest time in history of 10.61 secs to pair her gold from Rio, denying Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce a complement to her titles from Beijing and London, with Shericka Jackson third, and Briton Darryl Neita eighth.

No regrets, signalled Asher-Smith. “Unless I couldn't stand or do anything on the leg, it wasn't an option for me to pull out, because this is my life,” she added.

Jemma Reekie has both fitness and form and it translates into a quiet self-belief that she can possess an Olympic medal by Tuesday’s close. The Scot eased into the 800 metres final with a confident acceleration into second place in her semi in a time of 1:59.12.

Her foes ahead will include British team-mates Alex Bell and Keely Hodgkinson, with the latter oozing youthful confidence in progressing victorious. American teen Athing Mu, top-ranked but untested internationally, looks ominous too.

Reekie has passed prior examinations. However this is a test beyond for the 23-year-old. “I can't afford to make mistakes,” she said. Gold is excitingly possible. “I've definitely got big dreams. I stand on the start line every day to try and win it and I'll go out and do the same again. And if I come away with a medal, I'll be really happy.” 

With American-raised Scot Nicole Yeargin handed the second leg to make her own Games bow, GB&NI were sixth in the mixed 4x400 relay final as Poland claimed gold. While Daniel Stahl and Simon Pettersson secured a Swedish 1-2 in the men’s discus.