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Retired American track Allyson Felix has discussed her fallout with Nike and the inspiration behind launching her own shoe brand, Saysh, for athletes.
Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix has once again made headlines this time for calling out her former sponsor Nike over what she describes as a lack of genuine support for female athletes, particularly mothers.
Felix, a long-standing advocate for women in sports, did not hold back as she reflected on the contract fallout with the sportswear giant in 2017.
The rift between the two began when Nike, despite its global prominence, pressured Felix to take a significant pay cut as she prepared for motherhood.
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Refusing the cut, Felix parted ways with Nike, sparking a conversation about the treatment of women athletes—particularly those who choose to become mothers—by major sponsors.
Speaking recently in an interview, Felix expressed her disappointment in Nike’s response to motherhood within the athletic world.
"I mean, it was such a fight. You want them to change and embrace it. They’re this huge company. They should be leaders in supporting moms," Felix stated in a conversation with Glamour.
"But it feels like women’s sports is having a moment and now they’re showing up. It just seems like, if it was authentic, it would have been done a long time ago."
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Her remarks come at a time when women's sports are enjoying increased visibility and investment globally, but Felix remains skeptical about the motivations behind Nike’s current initiatives to support mothers.
She points out that while the company has recently made strides in this area, it may be too little, too late for a brand of such influence. The disconnect between branding and authenticity, according to Felix, is at the core of her criticism.
The fallout with Nike ultimately led Felix to a new chapter in her career, signing with the women-focused apparel brand Athleta, where she found a partnership more aligned with her values.
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But Felix did not stop there—she took matters into her own hands, launching her own footwear brand, Saysh, in 2020.
The creation of Saysh was fueled by her desire to provide a better path for women athletes, particularly mothers, who often face difficult decisions between their careers and families.
Reflecting on her inspiration for founding the brand, Felix stated in an interview with Media Brief.
"I started this brand for you, so no one has to wake up at 4:30 am just to hide their pregnancy from sponsors," she said.
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Her comment alludes to the emotional and physical tolls that many female athletes endure to keep their sponsorships intact while balancing motherhood, a reality that Felix faced during her own pregnancy.
Felix’s journey with Saysh has been emblematic of her larger mission to empower women on and off the track.
The brand’s first release, The Saysh One, made its debut in 2020 and quickly gained popularity among athletes and women looking for performance footwear tailored to their unique needs.
Felix herself wore Saysh shoes during her final Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games where she added two more medals to her already illustrious collection.
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