TrackGirlz launches our new series, Hurdles to Hustle, celebrating female athletes who have taken their competitive spirit beyond the track. There’s no better place to start than with Allyson Felix—an icon whose legacy extends far beyond gold medals.
Felix is a retired American track and field athlete who competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. Known for her versatility and dominance in these events, Felix is the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history, with 11 total Olympic medals, including seven golds. Over the span of her career, she accumulated 20 career medals at the World Athletics Championships, making her the most decorated athlete in World Championships history.
But Felix’s impact goes beyond her athletic achievements. After retiring from competition, she transitioned into entrepreneurship, social advocacy, and mentoring, focusing on creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for female athletes.
Stepping into Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Saysh
After retiring from competitive athletics, Allyson Felix turned to entrepreneurship, launching her own footwear brand, Saysh, in June 2021. This came two years after Felix publicly exposed the difficulties she faced with her former sponsor, Nike, including a lack of maternity protections. With Saysh, Felix aimed to fill a critical gap in the market—creating shoes designed specifically for women, particularly female athletes who had often been overlooked by major brands. Saysh isn’t just about footwear; it’s a brand with a mission to empower women in sports and beyond.
Felix made waves when she began wearing Saysh spikes in competition. In June 2021, in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Felix qualified for the 400 meters individual event by finishing second with a time of 50.02 seconds. Not only was this her fastest time since 2017, but it also set a new masters athletics record for the 35–40 age group. Her successful performance at the trials demonstrated her determination to succeed on her own terms.
Through Saysh, Felix continues to influence the world of sports, ensuring that women are not just seen but heard—both as athletes and consumers.
Advocating for Maternal Rights and Support for Families
Felix’s advocacy for maternal rights has been a key part of her post-competitive career. In 2019, she and fellow athletes Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher brought attention to Nike’s failure to provide maternity protections for athletes. This led to significant changes in Nike’s policy, ensuring that athletes would not lose pay or sponsorships due to pregnancy. Felix’s efforts didn’t stop there—she continued to champion for better support for mothers in sport, aiming to create spaces where female athletes could feel supported both as athletes and as mothers.
This commitment was taken a step further when Felix helped create a first-of-its-kind nursery at the Paris 2024 Olympic Village. As a mother of two herself, she understood the challenges of balancing motherhood and competing at the highest level. The nursery, located in the Athletes’ Village Plaza, offered a quiet, private space for families to gather, allowing mothers and fathers to care for their babies while still participating in the Games. According to the IOC, there were 64 bookings for the nursery during the Games, and athletes, both mothers and fathers, took full advantage of this much-needed service.
From Hurdles to Hustle: The Felix Blueprint
Allyson Felix’s journey from track star to entrepreneur and advocate exemplifies what Hurdles to Hustle is all about. She didn’t just dominate on the track; she took the discipline and resilience from her athletic career and applied them to business and activism. Her story shows that success isn’t confined to one area—whether breaking records on the track, launching a groundbreaking brand, or fighting for better treatment for mothers in sports, Felix’s hustle never stopped.
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