Allyson Felix becomes most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history with 11 medals
With the United States' 4x400 women's relay gold medal win on Saturday, Allyson Felix broke Carl Lewis' record becomes the most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history. The feat is the culmination of a career spanning over a decade, the first medal being awarded in the 200-meter final at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Felix has made a name for herself on and off of the field of play, being a fierce advocate for maternity rights. In November 2018, she gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, after being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. The illness is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication and led to Felix undergoing an emergency c-section.
Related: Allyson Felix officially punches ticket to fifth Olympic Games –– and her first as a mom
The following year Nike offered to renew her contract with a 70% pay-cut, she details in her 2019 New York Times op-ed. After broad public outcry and a congressional inquiry following the piece, Nike announced a new maternity policy for sponsored athletes guaranteeing an athlete’s pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy.
As for the future, Felix told Paste BN she intends to retire before the 2024 Paris Summer Games, so Tokyo looked to be her final Olympic hurrah. The hurrah is now capped with a historic record.
Take a look at Allyson Felix's 11 Olympic medals throughout her career:
2020 Tokyo Olympics
Gold medal, 4x400 meter relay
Bronze medal, 400 meters
2016 Rio Olympics
Gold medal, 4x100-meter relay
Gold medal, 4x400-meter relay
Silver medal, 400 meters
2012 London Olympics
Gold medal, 200 meters
Gold medal, 4x100-meter relay
Gold medal, 4x400-meter relay
2008 Beijing Olympics
Gold medal, 4x400-meter relay
Silver medal, 200 meters
2004 Athens Olympics
Silver medal, 200 meters
See more incredible images from the Track and Field field at the Tokyo Olympics from our photographers here: