Allyson Felix’s Empowering Initiative for Women

October 12, 2024

Oct 12, 2024 | Edition #36

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

There is an exciting wave of track athletes now stepping up as change-makers! Previously, we hailed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's initiative for new-generation Jamaicans. But, this time around, we join hands together for Allyson Felix's latest women-focused entrepreneurial venture!

But hold up! The track world hit a bit of turbulence when Asafa Powell let loose on event organizers, throwing some serious shade. And you won't want to miss today's fourth scoop—Quincy Wilson popped by a college campus, and now it's all the buzz in NCAA circles!

Let’s dive in!

📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I am a big believer in visualization. I run through my races mentally so that I feel even more prepared.”

— Allyson Felix

In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from Track & Field universe:

💪🏻 Allyson Felix’s Bold ‘Alpha’ Move

🌟 Remembering Athletics Pioneer: Peter Ogilvie

👀 Asafa Powell Puts Organizers On the Spot

🤔 Quincy Wilson Explores Career Moves

🏅BEYOND THE MEDALS

Allyson Felix's Ground-breaking Entrepreneurial Leap

Women can also be the alphas! 11x Olympic medalist, Allyson Felix is back to reclaim this power by putting her experience, resources, and knack for entrepreneurship to use. She is now launching, Always Alpha, a first-of-its-kind sports management firm for women athletes."To help grow their [women’s] brands, and to do it in a nontraditional way," is admittedly one of their mottos, as Felix recognizes, "We all feel the momentum that's happening now." Well, it's true, with Athlos NYC and now Always Alpha, the snowball effect toward helping women athletes gain a stronger foothold is evident.

Interestingly, Always Alpha, backed by the entertainment marketing firm Dolphin, is not limited to track and field but will function across sports. And not just athletes, but coaches, broadcasters, moms, and investors, are also included in the fold. Speaking of the motive, why Allyson Felix has teamed with her brothers—Wes and Cosette Chaput, who are the co-founders—is because she wishes to leave a legacy and help the next generation. "I want to pass down that wisdom and those things that I've learned," she says.

Well, this isn't the first time Allyson Felix is striking out on her own. In 2019, after her falling out with Nike over their maternity policies, she walked her independent path, launching her brand Saysh, which crafts footwear specifically for female athletes. In fact, just this year she propelled the set up of a nursery at the Paris Olympics village, where mothers could take care of their babies, breastfeed, and play with them. This was a breakthrough step! And now, with Always Alpha and her recent addition to the IOC Athletes' Commission, some incredible plans for women athletes might be in the works.

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📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Who Became the First Sprinter to Win Olympic Gold in the Men’s 100 Meters Three Times in a Row?

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Last Poll’s Result: In our last edition, we asked: Who was the first man to break 9.80 seconds in the 100 meters? And Maurice Greene led the pack with 35% of the votes—good job to those who knew he dashed to glory with a 9.79-second sprint in 1999!

🫡 TRIBUTE TO

Canadian Sports Visionary Peter Ogilvie Passes at 52

At 52, Peter Ogilvie lost his 7-year-long battle with cancer, before he passed away last week. For those who may not know, he was a transformative figure in Canadian athletics! As a sportsman, he was a 2-time Olympian, who represented Canada (200m sprint) at the Barcelona and Atlanta Games. Though he could not make it past the Olympic semis ever, his career was not devoid of wins. A 4x100m relay silver from the 1991 Pan Am Games and a 1994 gold from the Francophone Games proudly rest in his showcase!

Beyond sports, entrepreneurship was Ogilvie's middle name! As the executive director of Athletics Alberta, he took 10 years to make Edmonton a hub bustling with sports activity. This includes hosting the coveted 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Trials and flagging off the annual TrackTown Classic event, for the 15th chapter of which, Peter got Allyson Felix to participate in the meet! In fact, Peter even helped conduct Canada’s first track and field championships, where junior, senior, and para-athletes all competed under one roof.

Interestingly, Peter was not only a Star Wars fanatic, but also greatly inclined toward Tennis. Since he served as the interim executive director for Tennis Alberta in 2018, Daniel Skepple, the wing's president at the time, recalls him as a problem solver dedicated to developing, promoting, and empowering sports programming. Indeed, he was a sports leader to the world, but to his wife Cathy and son Noah, Peter meant so much more.

📽️ VIDEO VAULT

16-Year-Old Quincy Wilson Shattering 400m World Record!

At just 16 years old, Quincy Wilson has made waves in athletics by shattering the world record for the 400 meters with an astonishing time of 43.18 seconds. This achievement highlighted his incredible talent and hard work, putting him on the map! Let us dive into the thrilling race and the emotions surrounding this ground-breaking performance!

📈TRENDING NEWS

Asafa Powell Calls Out Disrespect in Track and Field

Track and field was already called a dying sport, rebuked for its skimpy compensation and dipping viewership. But, Jamaican veteran Asafa Powell's fiery claims have exposed another potential void. The retired sprinter has alleged track and field event organizers for disrespecting legends and giving them a cold shoulder. Powell voiced how ideally the Olympic Games or the World Championships are stages that should show retired legends the respect they deserve. Clearly, despite an international presence, the sport seems to lack on multiple levels.

Per him, the ex-athletes need to be given priority and held in high regard. Maybe even given a dedicated tent like is the case for other sports like the NFL, which prioritizes the legends of their game. However, Powell states that track and field has a stark disparity, wherein cameras are flashed to click the veterans in public, but their treatment behind closed doors is far from respectful. And not just him, he claims several retired phenoms have been experiencing this unfortunate treatment. "We are not begging for attention, you know, it's just the respect aspect of it," he said in a YouTube video.

Citing an anecdote, Asafa Powell, the 4x Olympian voiced that there was a time when thousands would flock to the stadiums to catch a mere glimpse of these athletes, and today, however, these retired legends struggle to even enter the stadiums. He specifically mentioned that Sha'Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce faced similar challenges at the Paris Olympics. This has led Powell to express his frustration, stating, "I don't understand track and field." Well, this isn't a first, a few days back the Diamond League garnered similar allegations that it leaves athletes feeling disrespected. But now, Powell feels it’s high time, as he urges the stakeholders to foster a change.

🗣️DEBATE OF THE DAY

Quincy Wilson's Next Move: NCAA or Pro?

2024 has been a banner year in Quincy Wilson's career! A U-18 400m men's World Record (44.20s), a 4x400m relay gold in Paris (without competing in finals), a Sports Illustrated 'Teen Titan' feature, and the list of his achievements just goes on. But it looks like he's now aiming for a transition, which has once again made this 16-year-old talk of the town! Quincy recently visited Texas A&M, signaling his potential transition from Bullis High School to the NCAA. He even attended a football game with the Longhorns, proudly wearing the college jersey.

While he has tagged all his Texas A&M posts with '#notcommitted,' there are clues beyond his "Gig 'em?" caption that suggests he might be leaning towards this school. Notably, Fred Kerley has been an alumnus of this college and so has Deon Kristofer Lendore (a 400m specialist), Athing Mu, Shamier Little, and Bryce Deadmon—creating an environment ripe for success! But mainly, Quincy Wilson's expressed admiration for Kerley may inspire him to follow in his footsteps.

If he chooses the NCAA route, Wilson, the wunderkind can start monetizing his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Especially, since Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, etc., have highlighted the financial disparity in the sport. But, a few fans suggest he should take ‘the Christian Miller path,’ skipping NCAA to go pro, for the college season may "burn his legs before he goes prime." Well, things did turn out well for Miller, who landed a sponsorship with a $1 billion+ brand. On the flip side, NIL stars like Olivia Dunne have earned $9.5 million since 2021 through sponsorships, proving that both paths hold significant potential for Quincy Wilson. Ultimately, it all comes down to his choice!

📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!

  1. Alexis Ohanain’s ‘X’ and Other Unique Collaborations Help Athlos NYC Achieve a Major Milestone - Full Story

  2. After Divorce, Noah Lyles’ Mother Found Peace in Sons’ Ambitious Life Goals - Full Story

  3. US Track & Field Sanctions Runner’s Alternate “Homegrown” Chicago Marathon, Supporting a Nobel Cause - Full Story

  4. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Was Terrified by Own Fears and Was Ready to End Relationship With Then-Boyfriend - Full Story

  5. Keira D’Amato Reveals Interesting Bet With Her Husband Ahead of the Event - Full Story

  6. Threatened by Noah Lyles’ Raw Pace, Tyson Gay Appreciates Noah Lyles - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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