FASHION-LOVING Daryll Neita shines on both the running track and the red carpet after being spotted by Kate Moss’s first modelling agency.
Britain’s second-ever fastest woman can casually switch between spikes and stilettos and loves to wear high-end clothes outside of sweaty athletics kit.
Those who will follow her journey to the start line of the Paris 2024 Olympics should realise she has a real passion away from the day job of running in a straight line.
Neita, who trains in Padua in Northern Italy, told SunSport: “I studied fashion at college. At the time people were so confused.
“They were like: ‘Why aren’t you doing sports science?’ But that’s not my interest.
“I might be good at sports and do it every day but when it comes to being creative or having an outlet, I’m interested in fashion. That has always been my thing.
“I was signed to Storm Model Management. They’re pretty big. They actually scouted Kate Moss when she was younger.
“During the off-season, I went to Milan Fashion week. I sat front row for the Missoni show.
“I’m always doing bits and bobs in the fashion space – and I love it.
“People always ask me what I’d do if I wasn’t in track and honestly it’d definitely be something in fashion. It’s the other side to me.”
Athletes sometimes do ‘walk-ins’ before competitions to showcase their personalities and life outside of track-and-field.
American Noah Lyles, the reigning 100 metres and 200 metres world champion, is someone who has brought style and fashion to the sport.
British longer jumper Jazmin Sawyers is a creative soul and likes to design her own clothes ahead of meets.
Neita, whose fashion idol is Naomi Campbell, said: “It’s important to feel good out there.
“I don’t see why being a sporty person means you cannot also be cool or fashionable.
“Yes, running fast is the main thing. But life is also about who you are as a person.
“I feel people are tapping into their hobbies more and you’re probably seeing that with their fashion.
“Noah is always dressed in something cool. Always doing the fashion walk-ins.
“He does ask me sometimes: ‘Are you going to walk before the race?’ Honestly, I don’t think I’m there yet where I’m thinking about my pre-race outfit.
“Maybe next season you’ll see me in a couple of looks before a race.”
Neita – who finished fifth in the women’s 200 metres final at last year’s World Athletics Championships – has a PB of 10.90 seconds and 22.16 seconds for the two sprints.
The Jamaicans and Americans rule the world over these disciplines but Neita, 27, hopes to be in the mix for the medals at this summer’s Olympics.
Power and strength was built up over the winter in the gym and on the track.
She has not long returned to Europe after a warm-weather training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa, which was funded by National Lottery money.
Neita, 27, who opened her year over 60 metres in Paris last Sunday, added: “I’m on the World-Class Programme. I get supported with things like that training camp.
“Without it, we would be training in the snow in the UK!
“The funding helps us in so many different ways. Whether it’s medical or travel or assistance. Even for our mental health.
“I train with people from different nations and they don’t get anything from their federations. And yet they are individual medallists. We are very, very fortunate.”
National Lottery players have transformed athletics in the UK with more than £300million invested since Lottery funding began. They support elite athletes to win medals on the world stage and have invested in clubs, facilities and programmes across the country to enable more people to take part in the sport.
