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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
Track and field Olympian ALLYSON FELIX was honored by TIME as one of the Most Influential People of 2020. 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.
Speaker Spotlight: Allyson Felix
Having stepped on the world stage as a passionate 18 year old in her first Olympic Games, ALLYSON FELIX has redefined athletics as she continues to cement her iconic status on and off the track. Allyson never expected that when she finally tried out for her high school track team she would discover her passion, but she did and has never looked back — amassing an incredible 13 global titles, 10 United States Championships, 9 Olympic Medals, and a World Record. She is the fastest high school 200 meter runner in history, has the most World Championship titles in United States history, and delivered the fastest 400m relay split in World Championship history. Her accomplishments solidify her as one of the greatest female athletes the world has seen and has garnered attention from the top media publications in the world, including features in Vogue, Glamour, Essence, Self, O Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Elle. An empowering and inspiring speaker, Allyson motivates audiences to pursue their goals no matter the obstacles.
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Having stepped on the world stage as a passionate 18 year old in her first Olympic Games, Allyson Felix, has redefined athletics as she continues to cement her iconic status on and off the track.
Allyson grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Paul, is an ordained minister and was an excellent sprinter as a teen. She inherited her long, lean legs from her schoolteacher mother, Marlean. Allyson’s interest in the sport began watching her older brother, Wes, run. However, she did not try out for the school track team until her freshman year at Los Angeles Baptist High School in North Hills.
She never expected that she would find one of her passions on that high school track, but she did and has never looked back — amassing an incredible 13 global titles, 10 United States Championships, 9 Olympic Medals, and a World Record. Her accomplishments solidify her as one of the greatest female athletes the world has seen and has garnered attention from the top media publications in the world. Features have included: Vogue, Glamour, Essence, Self, O Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Elle.
Allyson has proven herself a force on the track, but has still made time to graduate with an elementary education degree from the University of Southern California. She also has a heart for her community and serves as an ambassador for Right to Play and Play Works, as well as being a member of The President’s Council on Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition. Felix has recently turned her attention to helping the NFL’s Nnamdi Asomugha provide Los Angeles area teens with tools to prepare themselves for higher education through their ACTS College Summit.
It is hard to imagine that although Allyson was the fastest high school 200 meter runner in history, has the most World Championship titles in United States history, and has an Olympic and World Record that aspects of her career are still in the beginning stages, but in 2015 she has began to pursue the 400 meters and has already earned a world title and delivered the fastest 400m relay split in World Championship history. It seems the best is yet to come.
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