Sprinter Daryll Neita has develop into the primary British girl to hitch Michael Johnson’s new athletics league.
Neita, 28, was a part of the Nice Britain 4x100m relay workforce that took silver on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Grand Slam Monitor, launched by American legend Johnson in June, will purpose to carry collectively the world’s elite runners, providing $100,000 (£78,683) as a prime prize.
Beginning in April 2025, the brand new format could have a prize fund of $12.6m (£9.9m) cut up over 4 occasions.
Neita joins 1500m runner Josh Kerr and 400m star Matthew Hudson-Smith, each silver medallists in Paris, because the British athletes confirmed for the competitors.
Alongside Neita, Kenya’s 800m world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Mary Moraa and Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, a former world champion who gained 400m silver in Paris, have been additionally introduced as rivals for 2025.
“I am actually excited to be the primary British girl introduced as becoming a member of Grand Slam Monitor, and may’t wait to begin racing on this recent new league,” mentioned Neita.
“I really like the idea and attending to race twice in a weekend is enjoyable and thrilling for all of us as racers. It’s an incredible alternative to compete on the highest degree in an entire new format that’s going to carry a variety of power to the game.”
Grand Slam Monitor will characteristic 4 conferences every year, with two hosted in the US.
Athletes will compete in two occasions every and 48 will probably be contracted to the league.
Cash in athletics has develop into a speaking level in current months, with World Athletics asserting in April it will pay prize cash to Olympic athletes.
In June, the governing physique introduced a brand new world championship to begin in 2026 with gold medallists receiving $150,000 (£118,000).
World Athletics mentioned its championship would have $10m (£7.87m) in prize cash.
The Diamond League at the moment gives a $30,000 (£23,610) prize for these athletes successful an occasion throughout its 15 conferences.
“They need to be compensated,” mentioned 56-year-old Johnson, who’s a BBC athletics pundit.
“The construction of the game previously has not compensated these athletes to take that threat to go and compete towards the very best athletes within the sport.”
