Allyson Felix: A Feminist Representative in Track & Field

With five world championship wins and seven Olympic medals to her name, Allyson Felix is one of the most accomplished and decorated track and field athletes in history. Her times in the 400 meter and 200 meter events are record-breaking, especially her 2015 Beijing World Championship 400 relay split of 47.72 seconds; not only is this the fastest American time ever recorded but it is also the third-fastest ever run by any female athlete. With these astounding times, it is no surprise that Felix found her spot on the 2020 Track and Field Olympic team this past summer. But, unlike her other years in the sport, Felix was lacking one thing: a Nike swoosh. Since 2010, Felix had been a sponsored Nike athlete at all of her competitions. But, after she became pregnant in 2018 with her daughter, she dropped the company over disputes that boil down to one thing: representation and protection for female athletes, no matter what. Allyson Felix stands as one of the most successful athletes in the Olympics, and her feminist side shines just as bright as her athletic one.

Born on November 18th, 1985 in Los Angeles, Allyson Felix was destined for greatness from a young age. Felix started her career when she tried out for the track team as a ninth grader at Los Angeles Baptist High School. Her talent was noticed right away, and with the help of her coach, Felix was able to place 7th in the 200m at the California State Meet just two months later. From there, victory followed victory. She became a five-time winner at the meet, moving on to win international titles in the 100m. In 2003, she was named the national girls' "High School Athlete of the Year" by Track and Field News. Then, a few months later, Felix ran a 200m time of 22.11 seconds, which is the fastest 200m time in history for a high school girl. At 18 years old, Felix qualified for her first Olympics: the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Taking home a silver medal, Allyson Felix’s professional career had officially begun.

In 2018, Felix reduced her racing schedule and later, in December, revealed that she was pregnant. But, after the birth of her daughter Camryn, the truth about her pregnancy came to light. In May of 2019, Felix accused Nike, her sponsor of almost ten years, of refusing to guarantee salary protections for female athletes in the months after pregnancy. Her contract had ended in 2017, and she was attempting to renew the contract while wanting to start a family. According to Felix in an interview in the New York Times, she claims, “Negotiations were not going well. Despite all my victories, Nike wanted to pay me 70 percent less than before.” In another attempt to advocate for herself, Felix also asked the company to contractually guarantee that she wouldn’t be punished if she didn’t perform her best during the months surrounding childbirth. Felix figured that if other male athletes at Nike got protection, why shouldn’t she as well? In addition, Felix was one of Nike’s most famous and successful athletes. She hoped that using her status, she could set a new standard for female athletes. But Nike said no.

Without hesitation, Felix left the company and signed a deal with Athleta, a Gap owned apparel company in 2019. She became their first sponsored athlete and was soon followed by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. According to Felix, her disappointment was not only with Nike but with the sports apparel industry as a whole. She says, “This isn’t just about pregnancy. We may stand behind the brands we endorse, but we also need to hold them accountable when they are marketing us to appeal to the next generation of athletes and consumers.” In 2021, her story continues to show girls that they should not hold themselves to unfair and sexist standards instituted by corporate companies. Allyson Felix’s powerful voice is an inspiration to female athletes everywhere, showing that discrimination should not and will not be tolerated.