By: Abby Huang

Last week, Allyson Felix bowed in front of a crowd. It was her last race of her prominent career, and she was able to end it in her hometown of Eugene, Oregon.

Felix had announced her retirement in April, posting on social media “I want to say goodbye and thank you to the sport and people who have helped shape me the only way I know how — with one last run.”

The US sprinter began her journey at age 17 when she qualified for the World Championships. Two decades later, she has won seven gold medals, two silver, and one bronze medal at the Olympics, and amassed even more medals at World Championships competitions.

However, Allyson Felix’s accomplishments are not limited to the track. After she gave birth prematurely to her daughter Camryn, she discovered that she had pre-eclampsia. She recovered and spoke on her experience at the US Congress.

“After enduring the two most terrifying days of my life, I learned my story was not so uncommon. There were others like me, just like me… black like me, healthy like me and doing their best, just like me. And they faced death like me, too” said Felix. “We need to provide women of color with more support during their pregnancies. There’s a level of racial bias within our healthcare system that is troubling and will be difficult to tackle, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.”

She also called out Nike for their treatment of her when she was signed to the company. Nike originally sponsored Felix, but after becoming a mother, Nike wanted to pay Felix 70% less. In an opinion piece she wrote on the New York Times, she said, “”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.”

She eventually left Nike and started her own footwear company.

Felix stated that after her retirement she will continue to fight for women’s rights. “I’m trying to leave the sport better than I found it, trying to support female athletes and women in general and fight for more equality,” she said.