Allyson Felix is a sprint athlete. She was quickly noticed by ′′ Nike “, who offered her a juicy deal she accepted. However, a few months later, Felix got pregnant and Nike dropped/stopped the contract with allegations that she would never be in shape after giving birth.
Felix’s dreams were broken and she was depressed. Despite all these difficulties, Felix maintained her pregnancy and worse still had a C-section giving birth to her baby girl.
Her daughter, Camryn, was born at 3 pounds, 7 ounces and had to spend her first month of life in the neonatal intensive care unit.
10 months later she made the decision to challenge all odds and went back to training with the hope that she could qualify for the upcoming championships.
Join our WhatsApp Channel for more news
Nike officials and the world at large were stunned when Allyson Felix won all her races and even broke Usain Bolt’s record for world titles and now has over 14 gold medals at the Championships.
Nike tried calling her again but she refused the offer and launched her own shoe brand and now earns much more than any shoe brand in the world would pay her.
Allyson joined the Center for Diseases Control (CDC)’s Hear Her campaign to share her story and help educate pregnant and postpartum people and all who support them about the urgent warning signs of pregnancy-related complications.
“I really want women to be aware, to know if they’re at risk, to have a plan in place, to not be intimidated in doctor’s offices, and to be heard. To know the signs and be persistent about anything that does not feel normal,” Allison said.
Felix retired at the end of the 2022 season, with an extraordinary roll of honours in women’s athletics. Over 200m, she is the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner, and a two-time Olympic silver medallist and a three-time world champion – maintaining the title from 2005 through to 2009. She’s also won six Olympic gold medals as part of the USA relay teams: four 4x400m titles (at Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in 2021, and two at 4x100m (London 2012 and Rio 2016). She’s the only female track star to win seven golds.
There are not many sprinters who get to break Usain Bolt’s world records, but United States athlete Felix is one of them. Back in 2019, she pocketed her 12th gold medal at the World Athletics Championships – one more than the great Jamaican managed in his storied career.
Allyson Felix is the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history, a true great of the sport.
Not that it went to her head. She responded with a one-word post on Twitter that simply read: “humbled”. She added a 13th crown days later, her 18th medal at the world championships outdoors making her the most decorated athlete ever, and also owns a World Indoor Championship gold.
FELIX’s HONOURS:
Olympic Games
- 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, gold (4x400m), bronze (400m)
- 2016 Rio Olympian (400m, 4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2016 Rio Olympic medalist, gold (4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2016 Rio Olympic medalist, silver (400m)
- 2012 London Olympian (100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2012 London Olympic medalist, gold (200m, 4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2012 London Olympic medalist, silver (100m)
- 2008 Beijing Olympian (200m, 4x400m)
- 2008 Beijing Olympic medalist, gold (4x400m)
- 2008 Beijing Olympic medalist, silver (200m)
- 2004 Athens Olympian (200m)
- 2004 Athens Olympic medalist, silver (200m)
World Athletics Championships
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, silver (400m), fifth (200m)
- 2019 World Outdoor Championships, gold (4x400m Mixed Relay)
- 2017 IAAF World Championships, gold (4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2017 IAAF World Championships, bronze (400m)
- 2015 IAAF World Relays, silver (4x100m)
- 2015 IAAF World Championships, gold (400m)
- 2015 IAAF World Championships, silver (4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2011 IAAF World Championships, gold (4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2011 IAAF World Championships, silver (400m)
- 2011 IAAF World Championships, bronze (200m)
- 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, gold (4x400m)
- 2009 IAAF World Championships, gold (200m, 4x400m)
- 2007 IAAF World Championships, gold (200m, 4x100m, 4x400m)
- 2005 IAAF World Championships, gold (200m)
- 2002 IAAF World U20 Championships, 5th (200m)
- 2001 IAAF World U18 Championships, gold (100m, Medley relay)
Other Career Highlights
- 2019 USATF Toyota Outdoor Championships, 6th (400m)
- 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, gold (400m)
- 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (400m)
- 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, gold (200m)
- 2011 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (400m)
- 2010 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (100m)
- 2009 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (200m)
- 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, gold (200m)
- 2007 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (200m)
- 2005 USATF Outdoor Championships, gold (200m)
- 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, gold (200m)
- 2003 Pan American Games, bronze (200m)
- 2003 USATF Indoor Championships, gold (200m)