Seven-time Olympic champion Alison Felix announces plans to retire after 2022 | Sports

During her illustrious career, she has won 11 Olympic medals – seven of them gold – and 13 World Championship titles.

“As a kid, they used to call me chicken legs, and in my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d have such a career.” Felix said in a message on Instagram on Wednesday.

“I am very grateful for this sport that has changed my life. I gave it my all and for the first time I’m not sure if I have anything to give. “

The 36-year-old girl began her career specializing in the 200-meter dash, winning Olympic silver in Athens in 2004 and becoming the youngest world champion in the discipline in 2005 at 19 years old.

Her first Olympic success came at the Beijing Games in 2008, when she led the U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team to a gold medal.

It was the first of six Olympic relay gold medals – four in the 4x400m relay and two in the 4x100m relay. Felix also became the individual champion in the 200m in 2012.

“I want to say goodbye and thank the sport and the people who helped shape me in the only way I can – with the last race. This season is not about time on the clock, it’s just a joy, ”her Instagram post continued.

Outside of athletics, Felix has stressed the problem maternal mortality among black women who testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means after she gave birth to her daughter Camryn by emergency cesarean section at 32 weeks in November 2018.

In a New York Times article, she accused her long-term sponsor Nike of punishing her and other pregnant athletes during contract negotiations. She soon left Nike and signed a contract with Athleta, and since then Nike has expanded its protection to pregnant women and new mothers.

Felix won two gold medals at the World Championships less than a year after giving birth – her 12th and 13th place overall – and surpassed Usain Bolt’s record for the number of world champions won by any athlete.

“When you see me on the track this year, I hope to share with you a moment, a memory and my gratitude,” Felix said. “This season I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you.”