Allyson Felix, the retired Olympic track and field star with 11 medals, shares her experiences as a mother to 6-year-old Camryn and 1-year-old Trey. Like many women, she worried about how starting a family would affect her career, balancing work trips with family moments and cherishing rare moments of personal time. Felix notes, "Sometimes it’s just sitting in the car before I go into the house to take a minute."

Camryn’s birth marked a new chapter in Felix’s career, turning her into an advocate for women, especially mothers and women of color, in sports and beyond. Following an emergency cesarean section in 2018, she addressed Congress on Black maternal health and challenged Nike’s lack of salary protections for pregnant athletes, eventually parting ways with the company after speaking out. Last summer, she launched the first-ever nursery at the Olympic Village during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, accompanied by Camryn. Felix recalls trying to highlight competing moms, noting her daughter's nonchalant attitude, stating, "Oh, yeah, but moms can win gold medals."

Felix, 39, is the co-founder of Saysh, a women’s footwear brand, and Always Alpha, a sports management agency for women athletes. She will be inducted into the 2025 class of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame this summer. Felix discussed the challenges of entrepreneurship, the joys of her children’s sibling relationship, and the surprises of retirement in a recent interview.

Adjusting to life one year postpartum, Felix admits the first two months were difficult, with two kids shaking up her world and recovery being more challenging than expected. She emphasizes the importance of carving out time for herself, incorporating 5 a.m. wake-ups and workouts into her routine.

Balancing two companies and travel with motherhood brings “horrible mom guilt,” but Felix relies on her supportive partner. She tries to involve her daughter in her work to help her understand, but acknowledges the difficulty of missing important moments. Felix highlights the unattainability of perfect balance, understanding that some days are great at work, while others are chaotic at home, and vice versa.

Felix’s advocacy work stems from her own experiences as an athlete and the feeling of being put in a box. She noticed that mothers in sports were not celebrated, and their contracts were often cut or paused. Experiencing this lack of control despite her achievements fueled her fight for change. Writing a New York Times op-ed about her experience with Nike was eye-opening, revealing that many women across industries face similar challenges.

Felix recounts the audacity of men telling her how to come back from a traumatic birth, which put into perspective the role of sport in her life. She realized the company’s “we’re a family” rhetoric didn’t hold true when faced with a life-and-death situation and the threat of further pay reduction for not returning to competition quickly enough.

Addressing concerns about the wellbeing of mothers, Felix acknowledges motherhood as a messy, chaotic, and challenging experience, despite it being the best thing. She stresses the importance of support systems, particularly for single mothers and those without nearby family.

Felix also touches on the importance of creating supportive structures for women beyond financial assistance, highlighting the need for federal paid leave policies and affordable childcare. She emphasizes the importance of choice for women in motherhood and career, warning that rights are currently being rolled back.

Reflecting on Saysh, Felix notes the challenges of breaking through in the footwear industry as a woman of color. Raising capital has been a difficult experience, but seeing people wear their shoes and share their stories keeps her motivated. She underscores the importance of persistence, a trait she gained from her athletic career.

Always Alpha, Felix’s sports management company, aims to give back to female athletes by tailoring their experiences and introducing them to new brands. She encourages athletes to be involved in their contracts and take control of their careers.

Felix values her close personal and professional relationship with her brother, who has always been supportive. She also cherishes the growing bond between her children, noting her daughter’s love for her son.

In exploring her identity beyond athletics and motherhood, Felix admits she is still learning and growing, seeking therapy and processing her experiences. She concludes that she is in a state of becoming, still discovering who she is.