The most decorated female Olympic track star of all time is also one of its most beneficent.
Allyson Felix, who has won six Olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles so far, is creating a fund that will provide $10K each for 20 female track stars. Felix is doing this in order to augment the personal funds of women who become mothers but still want to pursue their Olympic dreams, much like Felix is currently doing.
Felix is partnering with her new athletic sponsor, Athleta, and the Women’s Sports Foundation to create The Power of She Fund: Child Care Grants.
The 35-year-old, who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by coming in second in the trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June 2021, according to CBS Sports, called out apparel giant Nike for allegedly reducing female athletes’ pay when they become pregnant.
In a New York Times op-ed piece, Felix accused Nike of cutting off negotiations when her demands included the guarantee that her pay would not be cut if she has a child and doesn’t perform at her very best.
“One of my first races back after giving birth to my daughter, Camryn, was the world championships. Not only was I still breastfeeding and physically and mentally exhausted from being a first-time mom while training and competing — I was assigned a roommate at the competition,” Felix told Fast Company.
With Athleta backing her, Felix feels she is aligned with a company that understands “that I am a whole person beyond the track.”
“They jumped right in to support my training as well as my passions and advocacy platforms. In fact, part of my contract with Athleta includes provisions for Cammy to join me whenever I am competing,” she said.
Felix is now providing that support to other athletes who are mothers.
