DARYLL NEITA is sick and tired of seeing the backsides of Jamaicans and Americans.
And when she crouches down on the start line in Paris, she will have her pet pooch firmly in her thoughts.
The South Londoner sprinter – who is entered into three disciplines in the French capital — is one of just two British women in the past 40 years to appear in an Olympic 100 metres final.
And last year she was fifth in the World 200m final in a personal-best time of 22.16sec.
Texas-born speedster Sha’Carri Richardson will be the favourite for gold tonight as the world champion across both sprint distances.
But she will be pushed by Jamaican veteran Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who retires after these Games, in an explosive rivalry.
The last British woman to claim a top-three spot in the sprints at an Olympics was Dorothy Hyman, who won silver in Rome in 1960.
Neita, 27, who will also run in Team GB’s sprint relay outfit, trains in the beautiful Italian city of Padua thanks to National Lottery support.
She told SunSport: “Those women are incredible.
“I say it to my coach every day, the memory I have is literally Sharicka being 10m ahead of me when I’m coming off the curve.
“I’m happy to run against the best in the world. This feels like the best sprinting era of all-time for women.
“I’m so happy to be a part of it. But I have to close the gap. I’m seeing too much of the backs of them! That has given me that motivation.
“I know I’m capable. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to run those sorts of times.”
Neita finished last in the 100m at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The only other Brit to make the final since Heather Oakes at LA in 1984 was Jeanette Kwakye, who came sixth at Beijing 16 years ago.
And Neita said: “I’m more experienced now, with more training, a better mindset in the event.
“Success for me in Paris would be an individual medal as well as a relay medal.
“I’m here to win. Yes, I’m running against incredible athletes and I do respect them all but at the same time, you have to put your best race together.
“I’m not just there to take part. I’m there because I believe I should be and I want to win.”
Neita loves the “snow, beaches, skiing, fashion, cities, culture, people, music and romance” of Italy — and she has even tasted a cornetto.
Her trip abroad would not be possible without UK Athletics’ World Class Programme.
And the support of National Lottery players, who have transformed athletics in the UK with more than £214million invested.
Before entering the holding camp and then arriving into Paris, she spent time with her beloved Chihuahua named Melon.
The two-time Olympic relay bronze medallist added: “The best thing about when I finish a race is getting videos from my family to see Melon’s reaction, of him barking at the TV.
“If I’m doing an interview he barks at the TV and recognises me.
“This is going to sound absolutely ridiculous but the amount of times I have stood on the startline and thought, ‘Let’s do this for Melon’.
“On that moment when they say, ‘On your marks,’ he crosses my mind.
“Let’s do it for Melon because he deserves it, too. I know he’s watching ? I have to make him proud.”
National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport — from grassroots to elite. For more information please visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
