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Allyson Felix has opened up on the struggles of adapting to the 'new norm' of post-retirement.
American sprint icon Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in U.S. history, has opened up about her difficult transition into retirement.
Since hanging up her spikes in 2022, Felix, a seven-time Olympic gold medallist and 14-time world champion, admits that stepping away from the sport she dominated for two decades has been tougher than expected.
Felix, who participated in her first Olympic Games in 2004, surpassed Usain Bolt’s record of 11 world titles in 2015. Although Bolt holds eight Olympic golds, his total tally of 19 titles falls short of Felix’s 21, making her one of the most celebrated athletes in track and field history.
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However, like many athletes, Felix faced the inevitable reality that elite-level competition becomes harder with age. As motherhood and new priorities emerged in her life, she chose to retire and move on to other ventures.
One of those ventures includes launching Saysh, a shoe company Felix co-founded with her brother, Wes Felix, in 2021. The idea for Saysh was born out of necessity after Nike, her former sponsor, attempted to reduce her compensation during her pregnancy. In response, Felix took a stand for women’s rights, building a brand focused on empowering women.
In addition to running her company, Felix also partnered with Pampers to open the first-ever nursery at the Olympic Village in Paris last year. Despite these exciting new initiatives, Felix admitted that leaving the track behind has been emotionally challenging.
“It is shockingly hard and I have struggled at times just because there is this great sense of loss,” Felix shared in an interview with Ted during the Olympic Games. “I’ve done something for 20 years that I have absolutely loved.”
Felix, who is widely respected for her grace and resilience, reflected on what it feels like to watch the sport continue without her presence. “It is an interesting feeling to see the sport continue on without you, and so it is all about figuring out what that means and working through those different feelings and approaching everything for the first time.”
However, two years into her retirement, Felix is beginning to adjust to her new life. “I have started to find my way but it has taken a lot of work that I did not expect to show up in the way I needed to do it,” she admitted.
Felix’s experience has also raised concerns about how other retired athletes navigate this difficult transition after spending years focused on their sport. “I think about athletes as they go through this path and how they are supported,” she said. “You are used to such a structure and the regimented schedule and a team of people helping you, and sometimes it can feel lonely and isolating as you pursue different goals without the same support system. It is an interesting transition for sure.”
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Despite the challenges, Felix is confident that her experience overcoming setbacks during her career will help her find her footing in this new chapter. “The biggest thing has been [trying to overcome] the adversity I dealt with on the track because I have been through all kinds of things, and it has always been about the long game and training.”
She continued, “I feel like that same approach will get me to a point where I figure it out, and that perseverance to get there has helped me coming from that athletic space.”
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