On Wednesday, professional track athlete Allyson Felix announced 2022 will be her final season competing. Felix has left an incredible legacy as an athlete and woman, while raising a daughter born in 2018. As the most decorated women in track and field history, Felix has inspired women for over two decades. Felix is a short distance runner meaning she mainly competes in the 200m, 400m, and the short relays. I chose to focus on an article about Felix and her lasting impact on the sport. As a former track athlete myself, she is someone I always looked up to.
Felix’s announcement came with an inspiring motive;
This season I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you.”
Instagram @allysonfelix
Her commitment to the sport and women is both inspiring and honorable. As a Black woman in America, Felix has been subject to harsh critics and discrimination. Her perseverance as an athlete and woman has inspired millions of runners around the world. Creating a world where women can prosper in both society and sports is my highest priority. Sports has not only connected me to other people, but also helped me understand my own body. Felix has achieved her wildest dreams through sport, and I think that’s incredibly powerful. This season I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you.”
I chose to highlight an article from the Washington post as it gave light to the career and achievement of Allyson Felix. Beyond the track, Felix started her own shoe company called Saysh. The company and shoes are designed by women, for women. She won two Olympic medals in Tokyo wearing her own shoes. Her decision to focus on her own brand helped her finish her career the way she wanted to; through her creations.
Felix’s first competition is scheduled for later this month at the Penn Relays. She is likely to compete in the 400m and the short relay. In track and field, athletes qualify for major competitions by time. She will need to qualify for the U.S. outdoor championships which could lead her to the World Championships in Eugene. I am personally enthralled that Felix could compete at Hayward in June, and that we have the opportunity to watch the World Championships in our college city of Eugene.
I’d like to encourage my readers to attend a meet at Hayward field in Eugene. The facility and legacy of Hayward provides a great sense of inspiration. Felix will likely qualify for the world championships as one of the fastest women in the world. I am follow along Felix’s final season in track and field. Even after her retirement from the sport, she leaves a lasting legacy for many.
Link to reference article below:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/04/14/allyson-felix-final-track-season/