Black History Month 2024: The Dzaier Neil story

Dzaier Neil (known as Zi) won five medals at the 1984 Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville. In 2008, an incredible 24 years after her first Paralympic Games experience, Zi went to Beijing to compete as part of ParalympicsGB’s table tennis team. This Black History Month, we spoke to Zi to learn more about her trailblazing achievements in Paralympic sport.

Dzaier Neil was born in war-torn Algeria in 1957. At just 9 months old, Zi was shot in the back, with the injury resulting in her becoming quadriplegic. Zi soon travelled to England and moved into Stoke Mandeville to begin her rehab.

Sport was pivotal to rehabilitation of spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville where Ludwig Guttman’s pioneering work laid the foundations for the Paralympic movement that has grown to be one of the biggest sporting events in the world today. As Zi grew up, she would attend the site for two weeks every year and she was given a classification for Paralympic sport for the first time when she was 14.

As a very active young person (and by her own admission someone who got into trouble), Zi really enjoyed her time on site:

“I had check-ups once a year at Stoke Mandeville for two weeks - we used to call them MOTs like a car!

“I started my international career as a swimmer at 14 – I think I am probably one of the only people still alive who was classified by Ludwig Guttman himself.”

Zi’s sporting talent was clear for all to see, in particular her all round ability. Attending her first Games in 1984 (the mention of which lit up her face), Zi won five medals - including a gold and world record in the Javelin.

But it was the bronze in the swimming relay that sticks out in her memory:

“Despite swimming at a young age, I headed to Stoke Mandeville in 1984 with no intention of competing. The swimming team’s manager was a former manager of mine and one of the athletes from the relay team had an injury, so he came up to me and said “have you got your swimming costume with you? Could you just do 10 lengths and we can see if we can make up the loss in time?”

“I jumped in, did my 10 lengths and nearly passed out, gasping for air after my backstroke. I heard my manager shout, we can make up the time, and off we went to win bronze in the team relay!”

Zi did want to make clear one thing in particular though that she feels is often discounted when people talk about the origins of the Paralympics:

“The standard was not low - people trained hard for the Paralympics. I would like people to know that we are true sportspeople, and not have-a-go people.”

Despite continuing to be a successful Para athlete in her beloved table tennis until 1992, reaching number two in the world rankings-, Zi decided to retire to focus on her career in social work.

But 10 years later, Zi felt inspired to return to the sport she truly loved:

“I don’t remember seeing many black athletes when I was competing, but I am my own role model. I always felt like I had to do well and I understood that I was seen differently.”

Table tennis had changed greatly since she her return though:

“Everything had changed, the size of the ball, the scoring (from 21-11) and how you qualified for the Games! I now had to travel the world to secure a world ranking position but competing felt like a drug again.”

Zi did not make it to Athens as a competitor but went as an independent journalist instead. Sat watching the sport, she turned to a fellow journalist next to her and said:

“Even if it kills me, I will get to Beijing!”

Despite challenges along the way, Zi did make it to China.

“I wouldn’t say it nearly killed me, but I did spend nine weeks in hospital in the leadup to the Games! I also spent Christmas day on my own in 2007 in Chicago - but I did it!”

Alongside Paris 2024 ParalympicsGB medallists Will Bayley and Paul Karabardak, Zi qualified for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, 24 years after her last Paralympic appearance.

“It was amazing to see players who I played against in 2008 still competing in the finals in 2024! I was watching them on TV and going, “Oh my god they are looking so old!”

The outcome in Beijing doesn’t matter to Zi, who finished fourth alongside her teammate Cathy Mitton.

“For me the goal was to make it to the Games. I had fought so hard on the journey that just making the Games and experiencing the beautiful environment and people I met that made it all worthwhile.”

Her favourite memory from Beijing saw an interaction with the police at Tiananman Square:

“On a day off from competing, Cathy and I wanted to go and watch the Marathon to see (fellow Briton) David Weir - we got up really early but were told we couldn’t board the first bus, as that was for competitors, nor the second as that was for officials.

“Luckily I managed to get a taxi and caught the end of the race and decided to push across Tiananmen Square. All of a sudden we were surrounded by police who told us we had to go the whole way round due to the closing ceremony being set up.

“We looked at the police and laughed, telling them there is no way we could do this, so the police gave us an escort across the square!”

And although you may think this is where her Paralympic story ends, Zi still had time for another comeback, featuring as a dancer in the Opening Ceremony at London 2012.

“I never attended an Opening Ceremony as an athlete – I was ill in 1984 and so sadly couldn’t attend as doctors were worried I might have missed the whole Games. So to dance at London 2012, especially as it was where the British team came out, was a brilliant experience.”

So the main question we had for Zi was will she make another comeback and continue her legacy? Well Paris certainly reignited her spirit:

“I just love watching the table tennis and have become a new fan of Boccia. If I can watch the World Championships for Boccia I definitely will, unless I’m there competing!”