Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson took gold in a time of 21.45seconds, just 0.11s off Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 34-year-old world record.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce sealed the silver as Asher-Smith made up for the heartache of finishing just outside the medals in fourth in the 100m to hold on for the bronze.
Asher-Smith was only a fraction off the personal best she had set in winning the world title in Doha three years earlier and afterwards dedicated her medal to her grandmother, who had died just before her first race of the season and whose funeral took place the week before the trials for Eugene.
“She had been ill for some time and was such a bedrock of my family,” she said. “I used to spend every day at her house as a child. For a long time, athletics was at the back of my mind. My brain has been everywhere. It has been a really tough mental challenge to get through this season.”
Asher-Smith had a good start from lane three but Jackson was ahead going into the home straight and pulled well clear ahead of Fraser-Pryce and Asher-Smith. It was the Briton’s eighth medal at a major global championship.
“The calibre of that final was insane,” she said afterwards. “It was such an amazingly talented race. I know I’ve been in the shape of my life for the whole championships. Did I know where it was going to land me? Obviously not because all of those girls are fantastically fast.
“I had no idea where it was going to get me but I was hoping and praying it would get me on the podium. I knew I was going to do my best and I’m glad that my best got me a bronze medal in such a high-calibre race.
“It’s been a great championships for me, three 10.8s, 21.9, 22.0, I don’t think I’ve ever run this succession of times in a major champions before. I’m just really pleased with how everything has gone.”
All four British athletes in contention in the 800m booked their place in the semi-finals with Tokyo Olympic medallist Keely Hodgkinson the most impressive in winning her heat in a time of 2:00.88 despite getting her ankle clipped a few times in the race.
Jemma Reekie, who had been edged out of the medals in fourth in Japan, also qualified for the semi-finals along with Ellie Baker and Alex Bell.
Britain had had high hopes of a medal in the men’s 800m with Max Burgin setting the fastest time in the world this year. But after he pulled out of the heats with a calf injury, hope hopes rested on the shoulders of Kyle Langford and Daniel Rowden.
Both had made it through their heats but could not make the final, Langford finishing third in the first semi-final and Rowden fourth in the subsequent semi-final.
