Over the past decades, Allyson Felix has impacted Track and Field deeply. Today, she is the most decorated and honored runner in U.S. history, with many memorable achievements and a legacy that transcends the world of running into that of social justice.
In 2003, when Felix was in high school, she dominated a world-class field in the Banamex Grand Prix. She scored a record high of 22.11 seconds in a 200-meter dash, which smashed Marion Jones’ US high school record and was the fastest time in history for a high schooler.
Two years later, in 2005, Felix joined the US Athletics Olympians in Greece, and she participated in the Olympics. She became the youngest athlete ever to win a world championship in the 200 meters sprint.
In 2022, Allyson Felix ran her last 200m sprint. She helped the United States Track and Field team win bronze in the mixed 4×400-meter relay at the World Track and Field Championships on Friday night.
After the sprint she officially retired.
“I felt the love,” Felix told reporters after the race, held in the U.S. for the first time in Eugene, Oregon, according to ESPN. “And I felt joy running tonight.”
In her career, Allyson won 19 career medals at World Championships, along with the 11 she earned at five different Olympic Games.
Reporter Miriam Walker-Khan: “We’re all familiar – perhaps too familiar – with the term ‘GOAT’ in sport, but Felix truly is one of the greatest athletes we have ever seen.”
Even though she is the GOAT at Track and Field, that’s not the only reason she is respected.
In November 2018, Felix gave birth to her daughter Camryn, eight weeks premature, doctor’s
discovered she had pre-eclampsia, which is a serious medical condition that can occur about midway through pregnancy (after 20 weeks), and could have been life-threatening to both her and her baby.w
Based on US statistics, Pre-eclampsia is disproportionately prevalent among African-American women in the US. In 2019, she stood up for herself, and spoke up about this at the US Congress.
“We need to provide women of color with more support during their pregnancies. There’s a level of racial bias within our healthcare system that is troubling and will be difficult to tackle, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t,” she said.
Nike appreciated her opinion and soon partnered up with her to create her own footwear company, and with the persuasion from Felix, Nike changed its stance on maternity pay and promised not to apply any performance-related salary reductions for 18 consecutive months after a women gives birth to the child.
Allyson is still fighting for maternal rights. “This season she partnered with her new primary sponsor and a non-profit organization to provide free childcare for athletes, coaches and other participants during the 2022 US trials.” BBC reports.
Overall, Allyson Felix has been a great runner on and off the field. On the field, she has won many championships and gold medals. Off the field, she brings attention to the world with the topic of maternal rights.
“I’m running for women,” she wrote. “I’m running for a better future for my daughter.
I’m running for you. More to come on that, so stay tuned, but I’ll be sharing a series of
announcements that I’m hoping will make the world better for women.”
In 2003, when Felix was in high school, she dominated a world-class field in the Banamex Grand Prix. She scored a record high of 22.11 seconds in a 200-meter dash, which smashed Marion Jones’ US high school record and was the fastest time in history for a high schooler.
Two years later, in 2005, Felix joined the US Athletics Olympians in Greece, and she participated in the Olympics. She became the youngest athlete ever to win a world championship in the 200 meters sprint.
In 2022, Allyson Felix ran her last 200m sprint. She helped the United States Track and Field team win bronze in the mixed 4×400-meter relay at the World Track and Field Championships on Friday night.
After the sprint she officially retired.
“I felt the love,” Felix told reporters after the race, held in the U.S. for the first time in Eugene, Oregon, according to ESPN. “And I felt joy running tonight.”
In her career, Allyson won 19 career medals at World Championships, along with the 11 she earned at five different Olympic Games.
Reporter Miriam Walker-Khan: “We’re all familiar – perhaps too familiar – with the term ‘GOAT’ in sport, but Felix truly is one of the greatest athletes we have ever seen.”
Even though she is the GOAT at Track and Field, that’s not the only reason she is respected.
In November 2018, Felix gave birth to her daughter Camryn, eight weeks premature, doctor’s
discovered she had pre-eclampsia, which is a serious medical condition that can occur about midway through pregnancy (after 20 weeks), and could have been life-threatening to both her and her baby.w
Based on US statistics, Pre-eclampsia is disproportionately prevalent among African-American women in the US. In 2019, she stood up for herself, and spoke up about this at the US Congress.
“We need to provide women of color with more support during their pregnancies. There’s a level of racial bias within our healthcare system that is troubling and will be difficult to tackle, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t,” she said.
Nike appreciated her opinion and soon partnered up with her to create her own footwear company, and with the persuasion from Felix, Nike changed its stance on maternity pay and promised not to apply any performance-related salary reductions for 18 consecutive months after a women gives birth to the child.
Allyson is still fighting for maternal rights. “This season she partnered with her new primary sponsor and a non-profit organization to provide free childcare for athletes, coaches and other participants during the 2022 US trials.” BBC reports.
Overall, Allyson Felix has been a great runner on and off the field. On the field, she has won many championships and gold medals. Off the field, she brings attention to the world with the topic of maternal rights.
“I’m running for women,” she wrote. “I’m running for a better future for my daughter.
I’m running for you. More to come on that, so stay tuned, but I’ll be sharing a series of
announcements that I’m hoping will make the world better for women.”
