Asha Philip backs new generation of British athletics stars to emerge

Medals last for ever but euphoria, Asha Philip admits, is temporary.

Six days after a superb Saturday when the sprinter revelled in the joy of a World Championships silver in the 4x100metres relay at the London Stadium, the circuit moves on and the 26-year-old has another target to shoot for.

Next stop, Birmingham, for Sunday’s Muller Grand Prix, with many of those who shone in the capital last week convinced to stay on for the Diamond League meeting as the athletics season nears its end.

The Alexander Stadium will bring Mo Farah’s last track appearance on British soil. Although there were inevitable declarations from UK Athletics that meeting their World Championships medal target of six was a sign of strength, the four-time Olympic champion was the lone individual gold medallist in London.

As yet, no candidate to succeed him in the lead role has emerged. Watch this space, though, argues Philip, who believes the scent of renewal is in the air, enriched by hopefuls like Callum Hawkins in the marathon, Kyle Langford in the 800m and her relay team-mate Dina Asher-Smith in the 200m, all close to a podium in London.

“Sport has that,” says Philip. “It goes in waves. I think we’ve shown with the number of fourth places that they’re almost there.

“But the next couple of years, you’ll see that new wave of names. It’s sad that legends are leaving but they can’t do it forever.”

The wheel must keep turning, she acknowledges. A world youth champion in 2007 before a knee injury curtailed her ascent, Philip has gone from prospect to veteran during a period that has seen Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford elevate themselves to Olympic glory and leave Generation Next keen to follow. “I hope kids have watched what we’ve done and believe in themselves,” Philip added.

But now it is back to competition. Next year, the Commonwealth Games and European Championships take place. Beyond that, another World Championships and an Olympics in Tokyo.

In Birmingham, the scrap for domestic supremacy will be renewed. But the bonds between the quickest women here are far from temporary. “As much as we like competing against each other, we still want each other to do well,” said Philip.

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