Allyson’s Final Lap
Photo: DAVID RAMOS, GETTY IMAGES
EUGENE, ORE - It was a phone call that caused track star Allyson Felix to postpone her retirement. The most decorated sprinter in U.S. history halted her plans for retirement to attend the World Athletics Championships to race in the preliminaries of the women’s 4x400 relay at Hayward Field. Previously, Felix ran the second leg of the 4x400 relay earning her 19th medal. Add in her 11 Olympic medals and it brings the total to an even 30. The mixed relay included Elija Godwin, Vernon Norwood, and Kennedy Simon, Felix inherited the baton in second place and sprinted down the track. After the successful run, in what she believed would be her last event, Felix admitted her team tried to coax her out of retiring. It was deemed an emotional end to a legendary career, however, after a phone call from her coach stating she was needed, Felix complied. And just like that, the track star was out of retirement and had one last victory lap to run for her team and country.
“When I got the call, I locked in and refocused,” said Felix.
Photo: STAR TRIBUNE
"The coaches asked if I was available and there was no way I'd turn the team down," said Felix on her return to the track field.
Lynna Irby’s decision not to run prelims of the women’s 1,600-meter relay at the World Championships influenced Felix to come out of retirement. The 36-year-old legend ran her last lap (50.61s) with Talitha Diggs (51.01), Kaylin Whitney (51.01), and Jaide Stepter (50.75) running the fastest semifinal of 3:23.38 on July 23rd.
At the Tokyo Olympics last year, she was on the gold-medal women’s 4x400 relay as part of a “dream team” with Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, and Athing Mu. The foursome extended the Americans’ gold-medal winning streak in the event to seven at the Olympics. Felix's track and field career may have ended but this mother is not done, as she reveals her attention is focused on her 3-year-old daughter Camryn.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Since then, Felix tweeted “Turning my phone off 🤣😜😩😋” putting an exclamation to her legendary career.
