About Doris Nelson Neal
Lived 1908 – 1982 (aged 73–74). Doris Nelson Neal was a coach.
Dorothy Nelson Neal OBE (1908–1982) was influential in the early days of women's athletics in Great Britain.
Neal was a member of Birchfield Harriers athletics club for 53 years.
She competed as an athlete before taking up coaching and is recognised as the first female to coach a female athlete to a World Record, having been the coach of Diane Leather when she became the first women to run the mile in under five minutes.
Neal was an official at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
She was awarded the OBE for services to athletics, and a stand at Alexander Stadium is named after her.
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Important facts
People in Doris Nelson Neal's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Doris Nelson Neal?
British athletics coach
When was Doris Nelson Neal born?
Doris Nelson Neal was born in 1908.
When did Doris Nelson Neal die?
Doris Nelson Neal died in 1982.
What was Doris Nelson Neal's occupation?
Doris Nelson Neal was a coach.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Doris Nelson Neal
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Doris Nelson Neal. https://biography.guide/doris-nelson-neal/
MLA: "Doris Nelson Neal." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/doris-nelson-neal/.
Chicago: "Doris Nelson Neal." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/doris-nelson-neal/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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