Doris "Anita" Neil OLY^[1] (born 5 April 1950) is a retired British international sprinter. In 1968, she became the first black British woman Olympian.^[2] From an impoverished family Neil was forced to rely on charity to travel to meets and obtain equipment. Eventually the lack of a coach, insufficient training facilities, and having to support her family financially saw Neil forced into early retirement at just 23 years old.

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Anita Neil

Personal information
Nationality	British
Born	(1950-04-05) 5 April 1950 (age 74) Wellingborough
Sport
Sport	Sprinting
Event	100 metres
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  England Commonwealth Games 1970 Edinburgh 4 x 100 metres relay Representing  Great Britain European Championships 1969 Athens 100 metres 1969 Athens 4 × 100 metres relay

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Anita Neil was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire,^[3] to an African-American father and a white English mother. Neil’s father was a staff sergeant with the United States Army stationed in Wellingborough during World War II, where he met her mother, Florence, a local woman.^[4] Neil’s father, who travelled back and forth between the US and England, left when she was six. In his absence Neil’s mother raised their five children single-handed with the support of Neil’s grandparents.^[5]

Neil worked as a machinist in a clothing factory and trained in her spare time. Known primarily as a sprinter, Neil's first competition for Great Britain was in the long jump in 1966.^[6] She competed for GB in the 1967 European Cup. Neil was British champion in 100 metres in 1970 and 1971.

At a national competition in Portsmouth, she won the 100 yards and broke the national record (10.6 seconds). At the same meet she was part of the 4 x 110m relay team who set a World Record. Neil was invited to Buckingham Palace which she remembered because she met George Best.^[5]

She was encourage by her hero Mary Rand and she became a member of the women's athletics club London Olympiades. She is considered 'a pioneer in the first generation of Black British female Olympic Athletes'.^[3][7]:319

When she was 23 she had to retire to lack of money and facilities and she hid her trophies. When the Olympic torch passed through her home town of Wellingborough she was the only Olympic athlete and she wasn't asked to carry it. Only later was she recognised for her contribution.^[5]

Neil continues to live in and has participated in local events.^[10] In 2012, she was a guest of honour at the opening of the Wellingborough Museum's exhibition on the Olympic Games. A portrait of her hangs in the museum.^[11] She also served as guest of honour at the official opening of the Knights Court in Wellingborough in 2014.^[12]