Sprinter Daryll Neita has develop into the primary British lady to hitch Michael Johnson’s new athletics league.
Neita, 28, was a part of the Nice Britain 4x100m relay crew that took silver on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Grand Slam Monitor, launched by American legend Johnson in June, will purpose to convey collectively the world’s elite runners, providing $100,000 (£78,683) as a high prize.
Beginning in April 2025, the brand new format can 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 lady introduced as becoming a member of Grand Slam Monitor, and may’t wait to start out racing on this contemporary new league,” mentioned Neita.
“I like the idea and attending to race twice in a weekend is enjoyable and thrilling for all of us as racers. It’s a tremendous alternative to compete on the highest stage in a complete new format that’s going to convey a variety of vitality to the game.”
Grand Slam Monitor will characteristic 4 conferences annually, with two hosted in the USA.
Athletes will compete in two occasions every and 48 will likely be contracted to the league.
Cash in athletics has develop into a speaking level in current months, with World Athletics saying in April it will pay prize cash to Olympic athletes.
In June, the governing physique introduced a brand new international championship to start out 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 up to now has not compensated these athletes to take that danger to go and compete towards the perfect athletes within the sport.”