The Woman Who Took On Nike and Won

^{Nov 18, 2024 | Edition #51}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

Last Saturday, we celebrated a major milestone—our 50th edition! It felt like the perfect moment to pause and reflect, but today, another incredible star is in the spotlight, marking a milestone of her own as she steps into her 39th year!

Yes, it’s time for another birthday special, and this one’s all about Allyson Felix, our November-born track icon, whose birthday falls today! While one newsletter can barely scratch the surface of her greatness, we’ve handpicked stories that truly reflect the legacy of this living legend.

So 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 Allyson Felix’s universe:

🏅 Allyson Felix’s Record-Breaking Journey

⚔️ Her Toughest Off-Track Battles

🫡 Taking a Courageous Leap Into Entrepreneurship

🏆 Track Icon’s Formula for Success

🫡 Tribute To

Allyson Felix: The Legend We’ll Never Get Over!

Let’s set the record straight—if track and field had royalty, Allyson Felix would be the queen! At just 18, she burst onto the Olympic stage in Athens in 2004, making it clear she was no ordinary sprinter. Five Olympics and eleven medals later, Felix didn’t just leave a mark; she rewrote history, becoming the most decorated American track and field Olympian ever!

Let’s revisit Tokyo 2021—her swan song. Felix clinched her 11th Olympic medal as part of the USA’s gold-medal-winning 4x400m relay squad, surpassing none other than Carl Lewis. But true to form, her reaction was as down-to-earth as ever. “It’s just incredible to be in (Lewis’) company,” she said. Surpassing him? Never the goal, she admitted. But history doesn’t wait for goals—it crowns legends.

And Felix isn’t just an Olympic titan. She’s the undisputed GOAT of the World Athletics Championships, owning a jaw-dropping 20 medals, including 14 golds. Over 18 WC finals, she’s never walked away empty-handed—an achievement no one, not even Usain Bolt, can claim. Yes, that Usain Bolt trails her, with 14 Worlds medals to his name!

Oh, and speaking of records—remember London 2012? Felix powered through the second leg of the 4x100m relay, helping Team USA shatter the world record in 40.82 seconds. It’s been 12 years, and that time still stands untouched, a gold standard for every track athlete out there. Here is a clip to refresh your memory!

31 Olympic and Worlds medals, 24 Diamond League wins, and even a Pan-American Games bronze—Felix’s résumé reads like a dream. To call her career legendary feels like an understatement, as all of that was never a cakewalk for her. Let’s explore the toughest challenge she faced in our next story!

Continue Reading: Overtaking Carl Lewis Was ‘Never a Goal’ For Allyson Felix

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Allyson Felix—7-time Olympic gold medalist, 20-time World Champion, American track and field legend, and a passionate advocate for maternal health. Her incredible achievements both on and off the track have earned her a spot in history!

Last Poll Result: In our last edition, we asked if you are excited about the Grand Slam Track (GST) 2025. And a fantastic 72% of you said YES! That’s right, the excitement is building as we gear up for one of the most anticipated events in the track and field calendar. Looks like the countdown to GST 2025 is officially ON! 🔥

🏅Beyond-the-Medals

Allyson Felix’s Scariest Sprint Wasn’t on the Track!

Motherhood is supposed to be magical, right? But for Allyson Felix, it was a full-blown nightmare at 32 weeks pregnant. The diagnosis? Severe preeclampsia—a life-threatening condition that could’ve ended tragically for both her and her baby.

It all started with a regular prenatal checkup. Felix, being the disciplined, world-class athlete she is, had been nailing her pregnancy game—prenatal classes, a birth plan, you name it. But when her doctor noticed skyrocketing blood pressure and elevated protein levels in her urine, things went south fast. After more tests, the verdict was in: emergency C-section. No time to wait. Felix was terrified, and who wouldn’t be? “I thought I had done everything right,” she admitted.

Enter baby Camryn—born two months early and whisked straight into the NICU, where she spent a grueling month hooked to machines. For Felix, those 30 days were a gut-wrenching rollercoaster. Her baby was a fighter, but the whole ordeal left her shaken and questioning everything. How could something so dangerous happen so suddenly, even when she followed the rules? Hear it straight from the icon herself—how she tackled those challenges and made it all about “creating change for yourself!”

Felix didn’t just survive this ordeal. She turned it into her next big mission. Partnering with the Hear Her campaign, she’s been on a warpath to educate women about pregnancy complications. Why? Because up to 80% of maternal deaths are preventable!

Felix has been loud and clear: women need to know the warning signs—swelling, headaches, blurred vision—and, most importantly, demand to be heard. “I want women to feel empowered in the doctor’s office,” she says. And coming from a GOAT like Felix, that’s a message you can’t ignore.

So, yeah, Allyson Felix traded in her spikes for a fight that’s bigger than medals. And if you ask us, her work off the track might just be her most important win!

Continue Reading: “Isolating and Lonely”: Olympic Star Reveals Saddening Reality of How Mothers Are Treated in Sports

📽️ Video Vault

Allyson Felix's Inspiration!

Allyson Felix, who fearlessly called out Nike for its unacceptable policies, returned to the track after giving birth and emerged as America's greatest track athlete of all time, certainly knows a thing or two about strength. Here’s what she has to say about this powerful trait. Oh, and she also shares the name of her role model—surprisingly, it’s not a track star, but a legendary female figure from the tennis world!

💫Inspiring Feats

When Nike Said No, Allyson Felix Said “Watch Me”!

Let’s not sugarcoat this—Allyson Felix could’ve played it safe. She could’ve kept her head down, taken the hits from Nike, and quietly prepared for her fifth Olympics. But instead, she flipped the script. In 2021, when Nike slashed her contract by 70% and failed to protect her as a mother, Felix didn’t just get mad. She got even. And not in the petty, revenge-fueled way that most would expect. No, she went higher. She launched Saysh, a brand built on a foundation of fierce determination and unapologetic advocacy for women in sports, especially for mothers who are too often forgotten.

And let's talk about that maternity shoe return policy. It’s not just a small detail—it’s a game-changer. She wasn’t just out there making shoes; she was making history. And when investors questioned whether there was enough demand for women’s specific footwear, she pushed forward, unwavering in her belief that the market existed and was ready for this. Fast forward to May 2022—her brand secured a multimillion-dollar deal. That’s not just business; that’s changing the rules.

But Felix didn’t stop there. She took her platform and turned it into something bigger. “It’s for that woman who has been overlooked, or feels like their voice hasn’t been heard," she said. She spoke up for black maternal health, fought for childcare grants for female athletes, and even made Olympic history by establishing the first-ever Olympic Village nursery.

This isn’t about one athlete fighting for herself—this is about one woman fighting for every woman in sports, and in life. So here’s to Allyson Felix, a record-breaker, and an inspiration to millions. Happy Birthday, Allyson!

Continue Reading: Which Shoe Brand Did Allyson Felix Launch After Becoming a Mother? What Happened to Her Contract With Nike? Everything You Need to Know

🏃🏻Track Icons

From “Chicken Legs” to Track Legend: Allyson Felix’s Journey

When Allyson Felix was a young girl and first joined her high school track team, she earned the unwelcome moniker "chicken legs." Back then, she never could have imagined that she’d go on to make history in track and field. In fact, what she didn’t foresee was how the sport would become her true calling, especially since her first love was basketball. At just 12 years old, Felix was a huge fan of Kobe Bryant, and it wasn’t just a passing admiration. She adored him "from the beginning," often posing in his jersey on the streets of California.

Standing 5’6” with a slender frame and impressive jumps, Allyson Felix seemed like the perfect fit for the L.A. Baptist High School basketball team as a freshman. All signs pointed to her having a bright future on the court. However, it was Felix’s family and coaches who recognized her raw speed and encouraged her to try track and field, a decision that would forever change her life.

Still, her basketball days weren’t just a distant memory. In fact, the time she spent dribbling down the court taught her invaluable lessons in confidence, work ethic, leadership, dealing with failure, and teamwork—all of which she still relies on today.

When her father and brother urged her to give the track a shot, Felix showed up to the trials in long basketball shorts and shoes straight from court practice. That’s how much she loved the game. Even today, she believes her basketball skills haven’t faded. "I can jump pretty good,” Felix said at a 2012 charity basketball event when asked about her current game. “So, I think my strength would be in rebounding."

But did you know there was a third career option that Felix considered?

Continue Reading: Wanted to Be a Teacher?: US Track Legend Allyson Felix Admits She Never Dreamed of Being an Olympian

📝 Highlighted Stories!

1. Noah Lyles Makes Bold Confession to WWE Legend Rey Mysterio - Full Story

2. Usain Bolt Shares Honest Take on Jamaican Legend Who Changed Women’s Sports - Full Story

3. Dethroning Sha’Carri Richardson, Julien Alfred Focuses on Track and Field Season Triumphs - Full Story

4. Sha’Carri Richardson’s Rival Shericka Jackson’s Olympics Exit Thoughts Revealed - Full Story

5. Kishane Thompson Fired Back at Noah Lyles Ahead of Their 100m Olympic Clash - Full Story

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

💌 FEEDBACK