Allyson Felix is a powerful advocate for women – especially mothers – with her childcare initiative for athlete moms

The most decorated Track & Field Olympian in U.S. history, ALLYSON FELIX, continues to make strides for moms and for maternal health. Since the legendary runner penned her 2019 New York Times op-ed about her experience with pregnancy discrimination, she has continued raising her voice and advocating for all mothers. Most recently, the Saysh Founder and entrepreneur partnered with her sponsor Athleta and the Women’s Sports Foundation to create The Power of She Fund: Child Care Grants. The program has committed $200K to professional athlete mothers with the goal of covering childcare costs as they pursue goals in their respective sports while balancing motherhood – just like Felix has done.

Felix shared in a press release, "As a mom and an athlete, I know first-hand the obstacles women face in sports," the six-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion continued, "It was important to me and to Athleta that our partnership reflects that I am more than just an athlete. In fact, part of my contract includes provisions for my daughter, Camryn, to join me whenever I am competing. But not everyone has access to this type of support from a partner or sponsor. These grants are about showing the industry that all mom-athletes need this same comprehensive support to be able to participate in their athletic endeavors." Felix has been sought after for her insights at the highest levels, from a CDC Conversation for the series ‘Hear Her’ discussing maternity health to a one-on-one with Vice President Kamala Harris on the Maternal Health Day of Action.

Watch Allyson Felix’s motivational TED Talk here >>

In celebrating her legacy, athlete icon Allyson Felix looks forward to what’s next

Legendary athlete, entrepreneur, and sports icon ALLYSON FELIX has officially retired from running and is looking forward to what’s next. Celebrating what The New York Times has called her “unmatchable legacy,” Felix steps away from the arena as the most-decorated Track & Field Olympian in U.S. history, and an athlete activist who continues to make groundbreaking advancements for maternal health. The Wall Street Journal notes that she will continue serving on the board of the nonprofit &Mother, which supports athletes in their pursuit of motherhood. The Washington Post describes her journey becoming a mother, and “launching the fights that she believes will define her career,” from writing a New York Times op-ed about pregnancy discrimination that rocked the sports world, to testifying before Congress about the systemic disparities faced by Black mothers. As the Saysh sneaker brand Founder told Elle, “My career became more about what I could do off the track. For me, that meant securing maternal protections in sports.”

Felix, a riveting and motivational speaker, went on: “My passion and desire started with running, but it grew into something more than I could have ever imagined. I want to channel that drive, give back to the running community, and — in a greater sense — help other women who aspire to do great things.”

Watch Allyson Felix’s TED Talk >>

Watch Allyson Felix in conversation at the White House >>

Allyson Felix continues advocating for women as a business founder with her new shoe company, Saysh 

The most decorated U.S. Track & Field Olympic Athlete of all time, ALLYSON FELIX has long been an advocate for women and mothers in sports. She famously sought new sponsorship with Athleta after leaving her high-profile Nike sponsorship over what she felt were a lack of maternity protections. Then she donated her winnings from the Olympic Trials and the Tokyo Olympic Games to Right to Play, an organization which increases sports access in different areas of the world, and also teamed up with Athleta and the Women’s Sports Foundation to create a fund to assist moms in sports pay for childcare expenses while traveling.

Felix is now applying that advocacy and passion to her newly launched shoe company, Saysh – built by women, for women. TIME profiled Felix’s new venture, pointing out that what makes Felix successful in business by staying true to her core advocacy work for women, and knowing how to create a brand that aligns with women’s needs. “It’s really about meeting women where they are,” Felix, told TIME. “It’s for that woman who has been overlooked, or feels like their voice hasn’t been heard. That was the biggest thing when I spoke out, was hearing from other women across industries. And having such a connection there, feeling like it’s so much bigger. There’s just that power in the collective.”

Time also honored Felix with being one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020 and 2021.

Four-Time Track & Field Olympian Allyson Felix is named to Sports Illustrated Unrelenting List

Sports Illustrated has recognized ALLYSON FELIX on their Unrelenting List of the most powerful, most influential and most outstanding women in sports right now—the game-changers who are speaking out, setting the bar and making a difference. Here is what they said of Felix:

At age 34, Felix is one of the most decorated track and field athletes in history, with nine Olympic medals (six gold) in four appearances and 18 world championship medals, including 13 gold to surpass Usain Bolt’s previous record of 12. But she’s also making a name for herself as a powerful voice and advocate for maternity rights for women everywhere. In 2019, Felix’s The New York Times op-ed on her former sponsor, Nike, ignited a discussion about pregnancy discrimination in sports and athletics and led to the brand’s revision of contracts to include more protections for pregnant athletes. As she gears up for the Tokyo Olympics, Felix remains at the forefront of the fight.

Olympian Allyson Felix is one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, and 2021.

Track and field Olympian ALLYSON FELIX was honored by TIME as one of the Most Influential People of 2020, and 2021. In her essay explaining why she is a bold activist for women and mothers, Christy Turlington - model and founder of the nonprofit Every Mother Counts - writes:

Allyson Felix is one of the most decorated athletes in track and field. When athletes like her speak out about the injustices they face, they are taking a stand for us all. So after Allyson publicly called out her sponsor at the time, Nike, for threatening to pay her less after she gave birth to her daughter in 2018, she had my attention and my support...

Women have proved time and again that they can be more resilient after childbirth, and female athletes are no exception. They come back, oftentimes faster and stronger—in fact, Allyson took home her 13th world championship gold in fall 2019 and had been training to compete at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

After she came forward, Nike updated its maternity policies to safeguard athletes’ pay for 18 months surrounding childbirth. But society needs to protect all of its mothers. We need to ensure they have equitable access to safe and respectful care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum to not only survive but thrive in motherhood. Thank you for using your voice to advance maternity rights, Allyson.