Maya Bruney was born in London, UK. She has dual nationality as her mother is Italian.[3] From 2012 to 2016, Bruney attended the BRIT School in Croydon.[4] In July 2014, she was awarded the BRIT School excellence in design award for a sneaker design, and in July 2016, was awarded for the second time for her end of year design portfolio. Her portfolio gave her different offers and she chose University of East London.[5] Bruney started athletics at age seven and began competing in the long jump and sprints events three years later. At age 12, she transferred from South London Harriers to Blackheath and Bromley Harriers where she was coached by her father.
In 2011, Bruney became the 200 metresEnglish Schools' Athletics Championships winner.[6] At the 2012 edition of this championships, she became the 100 metres champion and was part of the U15 record-breaking Surrey 4 x 100 m relay team, coached by her father. To this day, the team holds the British U15 Record in a time of 47.37.[7]
In February 2017, Bruney won the bronze medal in the 200 m at the British Indoor Athletics Championships. Outdoors in April, she became the BUCS 200 m champion. In July, the 19-year-old became the only athlete to achieve a hat-trick of medals at the 2017 European Under-20 Championships in Grosseto, Italy. She won the 200 m with a time of 23.04 seconds and earned bronze medals for the 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m relays. After her successful 2017 season, Bruney was nominated for the European Athlete of the Year award.
In February 2021, World Athletics confirmed her transfer of allegiance from Britain to Italy.[8] She now competes for female athletic club in Italy, Bracco Atletica.[9][10] In February 2022, Bruney placed third in the 400 m at the Italian Indoor Championships.[8]
