The guiding hand of Asha Philip

Sprinter talks to Ben Bloom about her role in helping Britain’s next generation of athletes, tackling the World Relays Championships and what might lie ahead as she reached the latter part of her career

When Asha Philip first emerged on to the senior global stage more than a decade ago, she was thankful to the likes of Christine Ohuruogu and Jeanette Kwakye for taking her under their wings and helping her become accustomed to the cauldron of professional athletics. Now, as the senior stateswoman of the British sprinting set-up, it is her turn to do the same for the next generation.

Of the seven-strong British women’s 4x100m squad for this month’s World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, three were still in primary school and another just a year into secondary school when Philip won her first senior international title at the 2014 European Championships.

While that quartet were busy in education, Philip was steadily accumulating medals: two Olympic, three world, six European and three Commonwealth. Aged 34, she has seen it all and done it all in the sport, gaining an abundance of wisdom to impart.

“When the new ones come in you have to help them out a bit,” she says. “I got it when I was growing up so you want to give the same effect to somebody else. It is quite daunting, especially when you’re seeing athletes you’ve seen on TV are now in the lane next to you. So I’ll just make sure they feel at ease.”

Just do not expect her to rule with an iron fist. “Everyone knows my personality,” she says. “I’m just here to have a good time. Life is too short, so I’m the one that will make sure they have the best time of their lives – but within limits.

“I’m a good/bad influence – a cheeky one. They still have to explore, they are young and want to enjoy the experience. But don’t run away with it. I’m going to give you an inch, don’t take that mile.”

From the dark days of failing to qualify a women’s 4x100m team for the home London 2012 Olympics, Britain’s female sprinters have formed an irrefutable powerhouse, habitually making podiums at almost every international competition since.

The culmination of that growth was last summer’s Olympic silver in Paris – their best result in the event for 68 years. Philip, so often the lead-leg runner courtesy of her lightning-fast start, was there in the Stade de France, but holding a microphone rather than a baton.

She had been part of the British…