Trojan Olympian Allyson Felix announced she will retire from running after one final season. Felix is the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time. She will give the keynote speech at USC’s 139th commencement Ceremony on May 13.
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OLYMPIC COMMENTATOR: For Allyson Felix, she is the goodbye gold.
Felix competed in five Olympics and has won seven gold medals since 2004.
OLYMPIC COMMENTATOR: Seventh gold medal to go home on and retire from the Olympics for Allyson Felix.
While home, Felix will deliver USC’s Commencement keynote speech. Felix will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the commencement ceremony.
In an Instagram post yesterday, Felix wrote “as a little girl, they called chicken legs, never in my wildest dreams.” She added this final season is “simply about joy.”
“I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter.” She said she will be making a series of announcements that she is hoping will make the world better for women.
On top of being an Olympic star, Felix has become an advocate for Black women’s rights. She is a strong believer in pregnancy care for Black women following the birth of, Camryn, her premature daughter. Felix gave birth in November 2018. She criticized Nike’s inadequate policies for pregnant women. Felix also went on to co-found a female-oriented shoe company, Saysh. She fought for contractual protections with sponsorships during her pregnancy. Felix has testified before Congress about racial disparities in maternal health care.
Felix grew up in Los Angeles and as a USC fan. She enrolled in USC in 2003 after winning High School Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News. Her final Olympics were the Tokyo 2020 games, where she won her 10th and 11th medals. Thousands will watch Allyson Felix on May 13 at USC’s Commencement. But this time, it’ll be for the speech and not her speed.