Allyson Felix Secures a Spot at Fifth Olympics
Allyson Felix has landed a spot at the Tokyo Olympic Games. This will be Felix’s last games and her first one as a mother. In an epic finish, Felix won second place at the 400 meters at the U.S. Track & Field Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.
Felix had been running in lane eight during the trial, where she had been in fourth place throughout the race. As Felix had been rounding the homestretch, she was able to get ahead of two other opponents, finishing off strong. Felix had a season-best, with 50.02 seconds. Felix spoke in an interview with ESPN about qualifying for the fifth and final time, “Man, it has been a fight to get here, And one thing I know how to do is fight, so I just wanted to do that all the way home.” Felix is thrilled to be going back to the games one last time. She is celebrating this victory with fellow American Olympian Quanera Hayes, who came out on top.
Cammy cheering on her mom. ❤️@allysonfelix | #TrackFieldTrials21 pic.twitter.com/3qLvpaKVqx
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 18, 2021
“SUPERMOMMIES! YEAH!”
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 21, 2021
Quanera Hayes’ son and @allysonfelix‘s daughter met after their moms qualified for the #TokyoOlympics. The moment speaks for itself.@usatf | #TokyoOlympics x #TrackFieldTrials21 pic.twitter.com/MCrlvJ7G9e
Felix first began her career as an Olympian in Athens as a teenager in 2004. At just eighteen, Felix won a silver medal in the 200. By Beijing in 2008, Felix would go on to win a gold medal in the 4×400 relay team. She would go on to do this again in London and Rio. In addition to her relay teams, she also won two gold medals in the 4×100 during the London and Rio games. Felix is the only female track star to achieve six gold medals.
Crazy that @allysonfelix has made every olympics since Athens in 2004 until now in Tokyo making it 5 total pic.twitter.com/9G5vYepH3x
— Simon ☀️ (@KailaGotClamps) June 21, 2021
Athens as a teenager. Tokyo as a mom. @allysonfelix qualifies for her fifth Olympic Games. Legend. #TrackFieldTrials21 pic.twitter.com/nSF4XuawuU
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 21, 2021
Felix has a total of nine Olympic medals, winning six gold and three silver. She is a fierce competitor making history in her fifth consecutive Olympic Games. In a poignant post on Instagram, she shared that she is not running for a medal; she is running for much-needed change. She wants to run for women’s equality as well as for her daughter, showing her that she can do anything. Felix’s perspective on winning has changed since having her daughter, but she still hopes to show the world how incredible she is as both an athlete and mother.
Felix’s career started as a teenager in Athens and will end as a mother in Tokyo. The United States will surely be behind Felix as she races to the gold. Be sure to follow the NBC Tokyo Games on Twitter for the latest updates on all sports.
Writer | Tweet me @court__giles
