GUEST EDITOR | JULY 2026
Daryll
Neita
SPRINTER | TEAM GB | SOUTH EAST LONDON
“You can take me out of London but you can’t take London out of a Londoner. There’s no place like home when it comes to the food, the people, the vibe, just everything.”
Daryll Neita
GROWING UP
I grew up in South East, in Lewisham. Being in South East London, it’s all about the vibe, all about the culture. I feel like that’s really shaped me and who I am now.
South East London Shaped Me
There’s a competition called the English Schools that we did when we were 14, 15. The London team was always the coolest team to be part of. You wanted to be team London. From a very young age representing London, being from South East London, I’ve kept it really close to my heart.
“Nah, you’re in my town now. I need to do my thing.”
The London Diamond League is probably my favourite race on the circuit, simply because the crowd is just insane. 50,000 people cheering for you. The stadium is half an hour from where I grew up. It really feels like I have that connection.
COMPETING IN LONDON
The Diamond League Feeling
We have the London Diamond League that happens every year and that’s probably my favourite race on the circuit. Simply because the crowd is just insane. Obviously I get to run in front of a home crowd, which means 50,000 plus people cheering for me, meaning the stadium is full, the vibrations are high, the energy is good.
I usually run my best time of the year in the UK, in front of a British crowd, which is great. You also get the chance for your family and friends to come and see you race, it’s more local and having that home backing is so good.
Especially at the London Stadium, the stadium is half an hour from where I grew up so it really feels like I have that connection, and I’m like “nah you’re in my town now, I need to do my thing”. I love it, there’s no better feeling.
Doing what I do takes me all around the globe so to be able to have really important competitions in the UK, it’s always fast, the track’s always good, we might not always get the weather we want but it’s still always a good turnout and it’s really special.
“It’s a mindset shift… it’s about showing up as you and knowing you’re good enough.”
Daryll Neita
LONDON NOW
Coming Home
I would say my whole 20s, I’m 29 now, I’ve been travelling or been living in different places or trained abroad. I trained in Italy for a while, then Florida, then Italy, and I’m back in Florida now so whenever I get a chance at home, even if it’s for a week or a couple of weeks at a time, I take it.
I really appreciate it and I really value it because it’s my home. It sounds corny but there’s just no place like home when it comes to the food, people, the vibe, just everything. My home, my family, everything’s here, so it’s made me really appreciate it.
It’s also really exciting when my teammates come from overseas, because I have a lot of international friends and teammates and people I know from the circuit, so when they come to London they want me to show them things and it’s nice to represent London in that way.
I find myself at Shoreditch House a lot just because it’s easy and then I’ve got my parents’ restaurant, Reggae Shack in Charlton, so I have to stop by there when I land because I’m like I need some food ASAP. I need some flavours and some home cooking. I love to go to Greenwich Park with my dog, the opportunity to walk your dog off the leash in a nice broad open park is not really a thing in Florida.
THE ROUTINE
In numbers
5
TRAINING DAYS PER WEEK
2.5h
TRACK SESSION DAILY
1.5h
GYM SESSION AFTER TRACK
4
MAJOR COMPETITIONS THIS SUMMER
Every season is a little bit different depending on timing and what’s happening. This year I’ve just come back from Florida, I’ve been out there since October so I’ve done all my winter training and preparation for the season and now I’m based in Europe, in London. I’ll be here for the whole season but there’ll be a lot of traveling between that with competitions and different things but my base is going to be Europe.
I train five days a week and every day we’ll have a track session, which would be like two and a half hours, and then I go into the gym for another hour and a half so that’s my weekly routine. It’s quite busy and then obviously around that it’s just travel and competitions.
We have the Commonwealth Games in July, we have the European Championships happening in Birmingham in mid-August, there’s another championship called the Ultimate Championships in September. Now I’m also doing Athlos, the new competition set up by Alexis Ohanian, and that’s September in London, and the last competition is in October in New York, and then I’m gonna find myself at Fashion Week.
This summer, it’s time to run, it’s time to get in the blocks. I’m really excited, I’m buzzing, my preparation’s going well, body’s feeling good so I’m really excited about it.
FASHION & CREATIVITY
More Than One Thing
My interests have always been in the fashion space or being creative. I studied fashion in college and then went to America to pursue my athletics career. The good thing is in the time that I’ve been on the professional circuit, I’ve been able to integrate my interests outside of athletics, so that’s why I do a lot of fashion shoots and beauty and fashion weeks, because they’re my genuine passions.
To be able to kind of have opportunities like this, I’m able to mix the two and it just kind of works seamlessly. I think for me it’s good to have something outside of athletics because it’s nice to be able to show that you can be multi-faceted, you don’t just have to be really stuck on one thing.
“There are no rules and these moments are creative outlets, it’s actually your downtime. It gives me energy so I love it.”
It’s all about expressing yourself and being authentic, I think that gets you very far. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, there’s no reason you can’t fulfill every purpose you’re meant to achieve.
How I Show Up
Photo credit: UK Athletics / Sam Mellish
Photo credit: UK Athletics / Sam Mellish
Looking better = feeling better. Why would anyone not want to feel their best, whatever they’re doing? Whether you’re on a track or in an office, I’m sure you want to feel your best when you’re doing it and it’s the same with our sport. I think people look to me as someone that makes the effort and I’m doing it for the girlies as well to show you can represent your country and be bold and strong and athletic, and you can also be a girly girl if you want to. The two can coexist and it’s about having these ambassadors showing that there’s room for everybody.
I’ll have my gloss on, nails have always got to be done, my makeup’s got to be on point, my hair’s got to feel good. It’s a show every time you come out to compete and show up, it’s a production and I think that’s what I’m loving about seeing this space change. We’re starting to understand there’s cameras. Why would you film a movie and have glam and all of these things but then for an athletic meet there’s no glam?
Why would the outcome of something you’ve trained your whole life for change because of what you’re wearing? It’s a mindset shift and I think because we’re really embodying that and pushing out to the forefront, people are gaining confidence. They’re seeing “oh maybe I can add a little sparkle here, it’s not gonna make me run slow.” It’s good to see us championing being ourselves because at the end of the day that’s what sport is all about, it’s about showing up as you and knowing you’re good enough.
“You can be as fast as hell and you can also be really beautiful and feminine and into fashion. The two can exist at the same time.”
Daryll Neita
TRAINING
ADIDAS
COMPETEING
ADIDAS
OFF DUTY
Stella McCartney / Adidas
I love to show that you can be as fast as hell but you could also be really beautiful and feminine and into fashion, into beauty. The two can exist at the same time, there’s no reason why it’s gotta be one or the other and I think we’re really seeing that in sports now. Especially on the women’s side of things. We’re showing that we can do more than one thing and we’re not afraid to wear our skin proudly and be ourselves and it’s just a really powerful movement to be a part of.
I have definitely built a wardrobe over the years, a bit of a capsule wardrobe where I just have my individual style. I’m probably someone that’s mostly dressed quite comfy, I’m always in like a tracksuit. I’m quite oversized, chilled, tomboy chic-esque, that’s my thing — a bit girly as well but I’m pretty intentional with the things I wear.
WHAT I CARRY
The Bag
01
DYSON AIRWRAP
Always. Non-negotiable wherever I go.
02
OUD MATIERE PREMIERE
I’m big into perfume.I’m always going to have my Oud.
03
AIRPODS (BEDAZZLED)
Gems and pink and glitter. I bedazzled them myself. I’m always the DJ of the group.
04
CHARLOTTE TILBURY POWDER
I wear a lot of Fenty skin tint, always got my powder.
05
LIP GLOSS
Always got lip gloss in my bag. Always.
06
BOSE SPEAKER
I’ve had it for about 10 years. Always listening to music; UK rap, always have music on when I’m training.
07
VICTORIA’S SECRET BOMBSHELL BRONZE
A really amazing body shimmer. Always in the bag.
DOWNTIME
Bedazzling, Beats & New Skills
I’ve had quite a lot of requests to bedazzle things, people are like “oh my god, can you please do my phone case”. I actually was going to put them on my website for sale. I just love like getting busy or getting creative and when I have that down time, especially when I’m in Florida, it’s nice to keep myself busy but without too much high energy.
I do make up tutorials and I love learning new little crafts and I love personalizing my stuff. I want to feel productive and creative, I don’t want to just watch TV, so I’m learning new skills.
“I want to feel productive and creative. I don’t want to just watch TV, so I’m learning new skills.”
Daryll Neita
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Reggae Shack
It’s called Reggae Shack and they started from home so it was operating more like a dark kitchen for delivery, and then this January they secured their first shop. It’s doing so well because it already had built up a reputation in the last five, six years as being — I would say — London’s number one Jamaican restaurant. It’s five stars on every app, it’s got really amazing reviews.
When they started in 2020 it was just an idea. My mum and her husband just said, “all right let’s get cooking” and it’s been a real pleasure to be able to kind of share their passion with the whole of London. It makes me very proud so when I’m over in Florida catching up on their social media and seeing what they’re up to I’m like, “wow my family’s killing it”.
DARYLL’S ORDER EVERYTIME
Curry goat, rice and peas, plantain and the homemade fruit punch.
Coming up
A full summer of racing and then straight to Fashion Week. Because why would you finish the season any other way?
JULY
Commonwealth Games
AUGUST
European Championships, Birmingham
SEPTEMBER
Ultimate Championships & Athlos London
OCTOBER
Final competition, New York
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