How Olympian Allyson Felix is changing the narrative around mothers competing

As Team USA continues to dominate at the Olympics, the most decorated American athlete in track and field history, Allyson Felix, is in Paris with a different goal in mind. She wants to change the narrative around mothers competing at the highest level. Felix joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.
Amna Nawaz:
As Team USA continues to dominate at the Summer Olympics, the most decorated American athlete in track and field history, Allyson Felix, with 11 Olympic medals and 20 world championships to her name, is also in Paris, but with a different goal in mind, to change the narrative around mothers competing at the highest level.
Allyson Felix joins us from Paris now.
Allyson, welcome, and thanks so much for joining us.
Allyson Felix, Former Olympian:
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Amna Nawaz:
So tell us about this effort. You partnered with Pampers to basically create a nursery in the athletes village for the Paris Games, for athletes with young kids. It’s the first ever Olympic facility of its kind. Why create this space? Why is it needed?
Allyson Felix:
Yes, when I came back from competition after having my daughter, it was really challenging.
And I had a hard time traveling around with her and competing. And so when I was appointed on the Athletes Commission of the IOC, it was really top of mind to figure out, how can we better support mothers? And when we thought about the Olympic Games, it felt like this is something that should have been done a long time ago.
And we’re just so proud that now there’s a space in the athlete village to be able to bring your babies, your young children, to spend time with them, bond with them and also just get away from the pressures of the Olympic Games.
Amna Nawaz:
Tell me about that time when you came back after you had your first daughter in 2018. You competed in Tokyo in 2021 after that. With a young child, what was hard about that? What were the challenges?
Allyson Felix:
Yes, when I went back to competition, it was flying with an infant. It was going to competitions, sometimes being assigned a roommate or having to wash bottles in hotel rooms.
So, just some of the smaller practical things that were challenging. And so we just want to figure out a way, how can we show up and how can we support mothers to make it easier so that they can know they are just as capable to have these big-time performances after childbirth.
Amna Nawaz:
We mentioned this is the first-ever facility of its kind. Why did it take so long?
Allyson Felix:
I really think maybe a lack of having mothers at the table. And I think there’s a lot of people who have paved the way for something like this to happen, pieces in place.
And, finally, it came around. I was shocked that when I brought it up before the commission, it was so well-received. And we moved really quickly on it. But I think sometimes we just need more voices, more stories amplified. And I think now, more than ever, we’re seeing so many athlete mothers competing and doing so well that we are really trying to shift the culture.
Amna Nawaz:
And you have been one of those leading voices when it comes to calling for that support that you know mothers need. And you quoted someone else saying that basically having a baby in track and field was once called the kiss of death, meaning that your competing career was over.
You have two children of your own now, but you very bravely called out your then-sponsor of Nike back in 2019 for their maternity policy. You wrote an op-ed at the time — quote — “If we have children, we risk pay cuts from our sponsors during pregnancy and afterward. It’s one example of a sports industry where the rules are still mostly made for and by men.”
Allyson, you basically forced Nike to rewrite their maternity policy. But at the time, how hard was it to come out and say what you did?
Allyson Felix:
Yes, it was terrifying. I mean, for me, I’m a person who I don’t really like to rock the boat. I haven’t been in the past very outspoken. And it was just going through this very real-life situation that I realized I have to say something.
I had a traumatic birth experience with my daughter and it happened over the same course of this time. And I felt like that gave me that last bit of courage and that last push that I needed to say there’s no way I’m going to allow my daughter and her generation to take on this same fight.
I really wanted to stand up for myself and other female athletes.
Amna Nawaz:
And that traumatic birth experience with your daughter, you have also talked about. You had severe preeclampsia, which we know is a condition that puts Black women in particular at five times a higher risk of death than white women in America.
I also want to note you were just awarded some $20 million by Melinda French Gates, a philanthropist, in a maternal health grant. What do you want to do with that? What are your plans for those funds?
Allyson Felix:
Yes, I was so humbled to be selected as a leader to be able to deploy these funds. And I really want to focus on Black maternal health.
Of course, we’re under the umbrella of women’s health. And I really want to find organizations that are doing important and urgent work and have an impact really on the communities and the people who are most at risk.
So I’m so excited to put these funds to use and to identify these organizations who will really be game changers.
Amna Nawaz:
So you’re at these Games as a spectator. We all just saw Noah Lyles win gold in the 100 meters, Sha’Carri Richardson take silver.
What have been some of your favorite moments so far?
Allyson Felix:
Yes, of course, those have been really special, just cheering everyone on.
For the first time, I got to go out to gymnastics. I got to watch Simone Biles win another gold medal, and I got to bring my daughter. And that was just a highlight for me, watching these Games through her eyes. It’s been so incredibly special and fun. And so we have really enjoyed that.
Amna Nawaz:
Allyson Felix, we can’t thank you enough for taking the time to chat with us. Really appreciate it. Take care.
Allyson Felix:
Thank you for having me.