Allyson Michelle Felix is an American track and field sprinter. From 2003 to 2013, Felix specialized in the 200-meter sprint. She shifted to the 400-meter sprint later in her career. Her racing repertoire also spans the 100 meters, 4 x 100-meter relay, and 4 x 400-meter relay. Allyson Felix has just surpassed the U.S. track and field record for most Olympic medals. This record was held by track star Carl Lewis. She won her 11th Olympic medal on Saturday morning in the women’s 4x400m relay.
Of the 11 medals Felix has won, seven are gold. During Saturday’s race, she received the baton from 400m hurdles world record holder and gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin who then handed it off to Dalilah Muhammad and finally to Athing Mu for the anchor lap.
The four U.S. women’s track stars won the gold medal, beating their closest competition by a whopping four seconds. They finished the relay in 3 minutes, 16.85 seconds for the fourth-fastest time ever.
A devout Christian, she has said that faith is a critical component in her life. “I grew up in a very strong Christian home,” she tells Athletes in Action. “Our family was very involved in our church. I am so blessed to have my family and the upbringing that I did. It means so much to me to have two very godly parents who both have so much wisdom. They are amazing role models that I have had the privilege to watch as I grew up.”
“I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at a very young age. Ever since then, I have continually been striving to grow in my relationship with God,” she said. “I was nowhere close to the perfect child. I had my share of difficult times along with some disappointing choices that I made, but thankfully God never stops loving me.”
She started running her freshmen year of high school, which is considered a late start. Even so, Felix has seen unprecedented success.
She is the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history. The most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history. Felix is also the most decorated athlete, male or female, in World Athletics Championships history with 18 career medals, and has the most gold medals, with 13.
Felix’s 200 meters best of 21.69 seconds from 2012 ranks her seventh on the all-time list. In the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2015 World Championships, she ran the fastest split ever recorded by an American woman, and third fastest split ever after Jarmila Kratochvílová and Marita Koch, at 47.72 seconds. She is a participant in the US Anti-Doping Agency’s “Project Believe” program. She is coached by Bobby Kersee.
Felix, along with Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher, is credited for stirring public outcry over Nike’s refusal to guarantee salary protections for its pregnant athletes. They pushed the sportswear brand to subsequently expand its maternal policy in 2019. She is included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
Culled from CBN-NEWS, By God’s Grace’: Allyson Felix Sets U.S. Track & Field Record with 11th Olympic Medal (08-07-2021), Photo credit: Getty Image – atlantablackstar.com
