
Lia Neal Bio
Date of Birth: February 13, 1995
Sport: Swimming
Height: 5-10
DOB: 2/13/1995
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Raised in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, by her parents Rome and Siu Neal, who are of African-American and Chinese-American descent. She has three older brothers
- Lia is fluent in English and Cantonese. Knows conversational Mandarin
Career Highlights Include:
2012 Olympic Games: Bronze in 4x100m Freestyle Relay with a time of 3:34.24
Was the first woman of Black descent to swim an Olympic final for the US
2016 Olympic Games: Silver in 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Member of the 2017 NCAA championship team
Member of the 2017 Pac-12 championship team
Three-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention (2015, 2016, 2017)
All-America (19), National Championships (6)
Finished career with five school records
200 free relay (1:25.91)
400 free (3:07.61)
800 free (6:45.91)
200 medley relay (1:34.15)
400 medley relay (3:26.14)
Finished career ranked second all-time at Stanford in the 50 free (21.65)
Finished career ranked second all-time at Stanford in the 100 free (46.76)
Finished career ranked third all-time at Stanford in the 200 free (1:42.50)
Finished career with Stanford pool records in 200 free relay (1:29.83) and 400 free relay (3:15.05)
CSCAA Scholar All-America (2015)
2011 World Junior Championships: Gold in 100m Freestyle, Silver in 50m Freestyle.
- 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championships: Gold in 4x100m Freestyle Relay, Gold in 800m Freestyle Relay, Gold in 400m Medley Relay, Silver in 100m Freestyle, and Bronze in 50m Freestyle.
- 2008 Olympic Trials participant having qualified by breaking the 11-12 age-group record in the 100m Freestyle.
Swimming History
- Started swimming at 6 years old.
- Joined AGUA (Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics) at 8 years old.
- Swim for the Future Scholarship recipient.
- First AGUA team member to make the Olympic team and earn an Olympic medal.
Interesting Facts
- Favorite bands include Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club.
- Enjoys making music playlists for competition, practices, and her teammates.