Dina Asher-Smith has revealed why she doesn’t display her Olympic medals in her home – despite being ‘very proud’ of them. 

The Team GB Sprinter, 28, shared a glimpse of her stunning house with ELLE Decoration ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which begin this Friday. 

As she prepares to represent Great Britain, Dina spoke about why creating a calm home is key to her success on the track and about choosing not to have her medals on display.

She said: ‘I’m not one of those athletes that has a shrine to themselves. I normally keep my medals in a safe, but my parents are known for taking them and showing them off to all their friends. 

‘It sometimes takes me a while to realise that my mum has run off with my Olympic medal! I’m very proud of them, but they’re not something I have on show.’

Dina Asher-Smith shared a glimpse of her stunning home with ELLE Decoration ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The Team GB sprinter revealed why she doesn’t display her Olympic medals – despite being ‘very proud’ of them

Stunning photos of her home show Dina relaxing amid flawless interiors, including green furniture in the living room and bold artworks. 

The kitchen is decorated in similar colours, with a pale green island and chic barstools.  

She also has a study, complete with fluffy rug, where her various medals and trophies are displayed.  

Dina, who is the fastest British woman on record, won metals at the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. 

She also has medals at the 2013, 2017 and 2019 World Championships, and was just 17 when she made her debut more than a decade ago.  

She spoke to ELLE about the importance of creating a ‘sanctuary’ at home, to support her off the track. 

The sports star said: ‘I want to come home and totally forget that there might be these incredible things that could happen. There’s going to be no evidence that I even run track or whether I’m good at it or not!

Dina Asher-Smith celebrating with a bronze medal on 200m during the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon

Stunning photos of her home show Dina relaxing amid flawless interiors, including green furniture in the living room

The kitchen is decorated in similar colours, with a pale green island and chic barstools

She also has a study, complete with a fluffy rug, where her various medals and trophies are displayed

The dining room features bold artwork and a minimalist table, with a glass vase

Dina has been renovating her home for the past four years, describing the process as a ‘labour of love’, and admitting: ‘I can be myself here’

‘When you’re doing something so visible, so present and extroverted, you have to have that internal confidence to give all of your soul to those 10 seconds that can change your life.

‘When you’ve got that environment and that internal peace it gives you so much more energy to convert into fantastic performances, speed and power in front of a stadium of 80,000 people, millions of people on TV, the entire world!’

She has been renovating her home for the past four years, describing the process as a ‘labour of love’, and admitting: ‘I can be myself here.’ 

She said: ‘I wanted it to feel zen, like I was in a spa, and natural. I like a calm palette but I wanted there to be injections of colour and personality, whether through texture and shape or tone and depth.’

She used Farrow & Ball paint to decorate, using the brand’s ‘Carte Blanche’ range by US fashion designer Christopher John Rogers.  

Last month the athlete stormed to victory in the 100m at the European Championships, claiming her first major title in five years.    

Dina spoke to ELLE about the importance of creating a ‘sanctuary’ at home, to support her off the track

She also gave a glimpse inside her shoe closet, showing what she wears when not on the track

The sports star said: ‘I want to come home and totally forget that there might be these incredible things that could happen’

In October she had taken the risk of parting with her coach John Blackie after nineteen years – with just nine months to go until the Games. 

Dina had worked with Blackie, who she calls her ‘second dad’ since she joined the Bees Academy at Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletic Club aged eight. She has since teamed up with Edrick Floreal in Austin, Texas. 

He guided her to gold in the 200metres at the World Championships in 2019, after which he was named Coach of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. 

Speaking about her success and the future in an interview with the Mail last year, Dina said: ‘I am definitely pushing for more. I definitely think I have a lot more and I am going for more. But I’m immensely proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in my career.’

The full feature can be found in the September issue of ELLE Decoration on sale from 25 July.