Asher-Smith aims to be a Gold Coast livewire

England’s Dina Asher-Smith is ready to shock her way to Commonwealth Games glory.

The 22-year-old begins her campaign on the Gold Coast in the 200m heats on Wednesday having undergone some inventive training.

Reigning 200m European champion Asher-Smith and coach John Blackie have been using electricity as they look to take her to the next level.

She said: “The other day I had to do circuits with lactic in me which I was not happy with. But I do train with electro-stimulation – I do the gym while having electric current in me.

“That’s becoming less unconventional now. But John is really about pushing me to my limits and also knowing when to ease.

“I was not electrocuted. I should probably clarify it. But it means your muscles have to work harder to achieve the same force.

“A press-up becomes four times harder. Me doing 10 under pressure is like 40 without and it’s really tough.”

She broke her foot last February and was a major doubt for the World Championships in August but recovered to finish fourth in the 200m and claim silver in the 4x100m relay.

Injury-free Asher-Smith will be one of the favourites for the Commonwealth title and she admits the last 14 months have taught her a lesson.

She said: “I learnt how stubborn I was. And how badly I do actually want it.

“It would have been so easy for me to have accepted it and gone ‘nah, breaking my foot sucks. I won’t make world champs. I’ll kick back and not try.’

“But I’m not built like that. I don’t have that in me. I wanted to go to London. That was my target. And I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way, even a broken foot.

“I learnt I’m far more resilient than I thought I was and far stronger mentally than I thought.

“And I don’t look for validation elsewhere and that’s a big thing – it’s just between me and my coach.”