COPYRIGHT FROM WIKIPEDIA
Daryll Saskia Neita (born 29 August 1996) is a British sprinter. She won a silver medal in the 200 metres at the 2024 European Championships along with bronze in the 100 metres at the 2022 European Championships, 2022 Commonwealth Games and in the 60 metres at the 2023 European Indoor Championships. She has also won several medals as part of Great Britain 4 × 100 m relay teams, including an Olympic silver medal in 2024 and bronze medals in 2016 and 2021, World Championships silver medals in 2017 and 2019 and European gold in 2018.
Her 60 metres indoor best of 7.05 seconds and 100 metres best of 10.90 seconds achieved at the 2023 ISTAF Indoor and 2022 Commonwealth Games respectively puts her second on the relevant UK all-time lists behind Dina Asher-Smith. Neita is a five-time British national champion, twice outdoors over 100 m, twice outdoors over 200 m, and once indoors over 60 m.
Career
2015–19
In 2015, Neita finished fourth in the 100 metres final at the European Junior Championships with a time of 11.69 seconds.
In 2016, she finished second at the British Championships over 100 m, with a time of 11.24 seconds (having run a personal best of 11.23 in the semi-finals), earning Olympic selection. Two weeks later at the European Championships, she won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay. On 22 July, Neita and her teammates Asha Philip, Desiree Henry and Dina Asher-Smith broke the British record in the 4 × 100 metres, with 41.81 seconds.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Neita was eliminated in the heats of the 100 metres in 11.41s, narrowly failing to qualify for the semi-finals. In the sprint relay, she won a bronze medal along with teammates Philip, Henry and Asher-Smith, improving the British record they had set a month earlier with 41.77 seconds. On winning Neita said "I am speechless. I am so proud of our team. We absolutely smashed it."
On 17 June 2017, Neita improved her 100 metres personal best to 11.20 secs at the England U23 Championships, before going on to finish second at the British Championships on 1 July, running 11.25, earning World Championship selection. A week later at the Anniversary Games in London, she further improved her 100 metres best with 11.14, to move to seventh on the UK all-time list. The following month at the World Championships in London, she ran 11.15 in her 100 metres heat to qualify for the semi-finals, where she was eliminated running 11.16. She went on to win a silver medal in the sprint relay, along with her 2016 Olympic teammates Philip, Henry and Asher-Smith.
In June 2018, Neita ran 11.19 secs to finish second at the British Championships, earning selection for the European Championships in Berlin. At the Championships she qualified for the semi finials but missed out on the final after finishing 4th in a time of 11.27.
In September 2019, Neita finished in 1st place in the 100 m, representing Europe in The Match, a two-day team competition against the USA in Minsk, Belarus. At the World Championships in Doha that year, she improved her 100 metres best to 11.12 secs to reach the semi-finals, where she ran 11.18. She went on to win a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
2020–present
In 2021, after it was announced that her coach Rana Reider was being investigated by the US Center for SafeSport for sexual misconduct, UK Athletics told Neita and other British athletes who were part of Reider’s group to cease contact with Reider or else her membership in the World Class Programme, including lottery funding, would be suspended. Neita left Reider’s training group thereafter. Neita finished eighth in the final of the 100 m at the Tokyo Olympics, having run a personal best of 10.96s in the heats. She won a bronze medal as part of the 4 × 100 m relay team.
In 2022, Neita represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she set a new personal best of 10.90 in the semi-finals. In the final, she ran 11.07 to finish in third place, winning a bronze medal. The same month, she took a medal of the same colour at the European Championships.
After winning the 100 metres gold medal at the 2024 British Athletics Championships, Neita was subsequently named in the Great Britain team for the 2024 Summer Olympics. She placed fourth in the 100 m, the best result by a British woman in 64 years in the event. Neita also placed fifth in the 200 m, and won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.
In November 2024, it was announced that Neita had signed up for the inaugural season of the Michael Johnson founded Grand Slam Track.
Personal Life and Relationships
As of the latest available information, Daryll Neita is not publicly known to be in a relationship. She has not disclosed details about her romantic life, preferring to keep such aspects private. Her focus remains on her athletic career and personal development.
Interests and Hobbies
Beyond athletics, Neita has a keen interest in fashion. She studied fashion at Oakland College and has expressed a desire to pursue a career in the industry had she not been drawn to athletics. Her passion for fashion is evident as she collaborates with leading brands and attends major fashion events during her off-season.
Neita is also a dog lover and owns a Chihuahua named Melon, who has his own Instagram account. She often shares moments with Melon, highlighting their close bond.
Community Engagement
Committed to inspiring the next generation, Neita founded the Daryll Neita Athletics Community (DNAC) in May 2024. The initiative aims to encourage children to participate in sports and support the development of young athletes. The first event, a sports day at Sutcliffe Park in South East London, saw over 100 primary school children engaging in various athletic activities.
Looking Ahead
As Neita continues to excel in her athletic career, she remains a role model for aspiring athletes. Her dedication to her sport, combined with her interests outside of athletics, showcases her multifaceted personality. While she keeps her personal life private, her public endeavors reflect her commitment to excellence and community engagement.
