Allyson Felix is undoubtedly one of the greatest track and field athletes the United States has produced. Throughout the four Olympics she has participated in, she has won six gold medals and 3 silver ones.
The 2020 Tokyo Games will be her fifth time on an Olympic track, but it will be her first time as a mom. Amazingly, this first-time mom is one medal away from setting multiple world records.
Allyson Felix is making history.
These Games will be historical for a number of different reasons. Initially, the Tokyo Games were postponed a year due to COVID-19, and even now, athletes have been falling sick with the virus. This year, it will be one of the first times the Games are hosted in such unknowing times. On a lighter note, it will be the first time Felix participates as a mother. Impressively, if this mother brings home another medal, she could very well be making history.
According to ESPN, if this track and field star brings home one or more medals, she will either tie or set the record for most medals won by an American track and field athlete. As of now, Carl Lewis currently holds the title, but his record very well could be in jeopardy. Additionally, in terms of the number of medals, if Felix brings home one more, she will claim the title of all-time winningest female track and field athlete.
Felix’s participation in this year’s 2020 Olympics is all the more impressive when contextualized with the struggle she faced to get to this position. In 2018, the track star gave birth to her daughter Camryn via emergency C-section. The pregnancy was nearly life-threatening and she was in the NICU fighting for her life.
Not only was her death a very real possibility, but Felix terminated her sponsorship with Nike after she was mistreated due to her maternal status. She was forced to train while 5 months pregnant and believes her maternity experience was an injustice committed by Nike. However, this inspired her to create her own brand that is made for and owned by women, called Saysh.
The world will be rooting for Allyson Felix this month as she performs in the women’s 400-meter and 4×400 meter rounds, as well as several mixed-gender competitions.
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