Marilyn Neufville

Marilyn Fay Neufville (born 16 November 1952) is a retired sprint runner who was active between 1967 and 1971. Neufville broke the world record in the 400 m and won four gold medals and one bronze in various regional championships. Born in Jamaica, she emigrated at eight years old to Great Britain.

Neufville first appeared on the international scene in September 1969, when she ran the 4 × 400 m in a Great Britain vs West Germany match in Hamburg. In March 1970, she competed for Great Britain in the European Indoor Athletics Championships and won gold over 400 m in 53.01 s,

Jamaican years In the summer, before the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Neufville chose to represent her country of birth, Jamaica over her country of residence. This caused wide controversy with many members of the British public saying she had betrayed where she was trained and considered her switch like treason. At the Commonwealth Games, Neufville established a new world record by improving the preceding mark previously held by the Frenchwomen Colette Besson and Nicole Duclos with 51.0 s (electronically timed as 51.02 s)

After battling with injuries, Neufville returned at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games but was a shadow of her former self—only finishing sixth in the 400 m final.

Neufville made her Olympic debut at the 1976 Summer Olympics. She finished fourth in her heat but withdrew from the round 2 heat due to injury.