On August 7th Allyson Felix staked her claim in the history books by competing and placing 1st in the 4x400-meter relay in this years 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Felix recieved her eleventh Olympic medal making her the most decorated track and field athlete of all time.
She surpassed the previous record holder, Carl Lewis, the sprinter and long jumper who won 10 between 1984 and 1996. And according to Felix she could not have done so without God. Felix states, "I feel so blessed that God has given me the talent of running. My running is an amazing gift from God and I want to use it to the best of my ability to glorify Him."
Felix has never been one to shy away from sharing her belief in God and the faith. "I grew up in a very strong Christian home," she tells Athletes in Action. "Our family was very involved in our church. I am so blessed to have my family and the upbringing that I did. It means so much to me to have two very godly parents who both have so much wisdom. They are amazing role models that I have had the privilege to watch as I grew up."
She shares that she learned of Jesus at a young age and applied the teachings of God to her life since then. "I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at a very young age. Ever since then, I have continually been striving to grow in my relationship with God," she said. "I was nowhere close to the perfect child. I had my share of difficult times along with some disappointing choices that I made, but thankfully God never stops loving me."
Now the 35-year-old young mother, who gave birth to her daughter back in 2018, has just successfully set a new record and competed in her fifth Olympic games; she says this will be her last Olympics.
Check out the way in which the public celebrated Felix's amazing accomplishments down below.
THE MOST DECORATED AMERICAN TRACK AND FIELD OLYMPIAN EVER. 🥇🥈🥉@allysonfelix | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/clZUbEvPPo
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2021
ALLYSON FELIX AT THE OLYMPICS
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) August 7, 2021
🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
🥈🥈🥈
🥉
🐐
Legendary.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 7, 2021
Celebrating you, @allysonfelix.
🏅🏅🏅 pic.twitter.com/nY8qb4n5FS
Allyson Felix told Nike she deserved better and then went and medaled eleven times in the Olympics in her own damn shoes to become the most decorated America athlete in track and field.
— Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (@darcangel21) August 7, 2021
US women's team wins gold in 4x400-meter relay, giving Allyson Felix the most medals for any American track athlete.
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) August 7, 2021
I noticed that NBC's Olympic coverage would show you LGBTQ couples like Meghan Rapinoe and her "fiance", but they structured their feature on Allyson Felix as if she was a SINGLE MOTHER, ONLY talking about Allyson and her daughter. Our sister is HAPPILY Married to a Black man. pic.twitter.com/dnPcuSjVvf
— Jaxson Reid (@JaxsonReid2) August 9, 2021
The Olympian has used her voice for good on numerous occasion including the Nike incident in which she claimed the company penalized her and other pregnant athletes during contract negotiations. Now the track star has just made history rocking her very own footwear brand, Saysh. We love to see an individual who is not afraid to speak out about the glory of God or speak on behalf of women's rights.
Leave a comment down below in support and celebration of this amazing record breaking athlete, mother, and woman.
Written by Precious Onukwuli
Sources:
Emma Bonsall
September 02, 2021
Allyson Felix especially inspired me this year! This year has been tough for me, but it is just so amazing to see God-fearing women like her, out doing what they love, running for the creator who gave them their legs to run! Runners like her have really helped me focus on who I am really running for and why I love the sport of running so much! Allyson Felix is a big hero in my life, as both an athlete and a Christian. I run both Cross Country and Track and Field, and she is constantly someone that I look up to! I thank God for both women and men like this in my life and who are using everything within their power to impact the world around them, for the kingdom of God! I am a senior in high school this year, and as of now, I want to pursue running in my college career! Thank you @allysonfelix for everything! Never stop being yourself because you are AMAZING, and you can never realize how many people you are truly impacting!!!