Allyson Felix says daughter inspired her to keep running as critics questioned her ability to compete after childbirth

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Allyson Felix became America’s most decorated track athlete after winning gold in the women’s 4×400. Felix spoke to critics who said her career would suffer after giving birth to her daughter in 2018. She said her daughter, Camryn, gave her the “courage” to keep running after becoming a mother.

Allyson Felix said her daughter gave her the “courage” to keep running despite criticism suggesting motherhood would prevent her from running at an elite level.

Felix and the US women’s 4×400-meter relay team won gold against Poland by more than three and a half seconds on Saturday at the Tokyo Olympics, as reported by The Associated Press. The victory awarded the 35-year-old her 11th Olympic medal, making her America’s most decorated track and field athlete in history.

The AP reported that Felix overtook legendary American athletics star Carl Lewis, who won 10 Olympic medals, and is only behind Finland’s Paavo Nurmi with 12 medals.

Speaking to reporters after her relay victory, Felix said she overcame obstacles to return to the Olympic stage, including critics who suggested motherhood would hold back her elite-level performances.

Allyson Felix holds daughter Camryn after a run in July 2019. AP Photo / Charlie Neibergall

“I had to face challenges in combat,” said Felix, as People reported. “I’m absolutely where I’m supposed to be. You know, sometimes I think it’s enough to fight and I think it’s unfortunate. It’s not just me. And I think it’s there. most important thing. ”

Felix told reporters her daughter was one of the reasons she pushed herself.

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“There have been so many women before me who have had to keep their fight silent,” continued Félix. “And so for me to be able to go out and I think my daughter gave me the courage to do it. But I think that was really the problem, that it has been going on for too long. And I hope we ‘you really change things. ”

Felix is ​​a strong advocate for maternity protection for athletes who are parents. She gave birth to her 2-year-old daughter, Camryn, in November 2018 after undergoing an emergency cesarean section at 32 weeks due to severe preeclampsia.

Felix severed ties with her longtime sponsor Nike in 2019, saying the company offered her a salary 70% lower than her previous salary and did not explicitly support the maternity protections she requested in her contract.

Allyson Felix celebrates with daughter Camryn after day nine of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 26, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Steph Chambers / Getty Images

She later said Nike was “beyond disrespecting” to ask her to appear in women’s empowerment ads while privately challenging maternity protections.

In March 2020, Felix said she feared she might not be at her ‘highest level’ after pregnancy – but broke Olympic medalist Usain Bolt’s gold medal record just 10 months after giving birth. .

“I feel at peace,” Felix told reporters after his 4×400 relay race in Tokyo, the AP reported. “I went out, I had every confidence in these amazing women. I wanted to take it all one last time, and it was special.”

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