Felix postpones retirement for women's 4x400 relay at worlds

By: APUpdated: July 23, 2022 10:48:38 am

Turns out, Allyson Felix hasn’t run her last race. The most decorated sprinter in U.S. history will return to the world championships to race in the preliminaries of the women’s 4×400 relay Saturday.

She said team officials coaxed her out of her brief retirement after she helped the mixed relay team win a bronze medal last Friday in what she had said was her last major race.

“The coaches asked if I was available and there was no way I’d turn the team down,” the 36-year-old said through an email with The Associated Press.

The prelims of the 4×400 relay are Saturday and the final will be held Sunday to close out the world championships. A week ago, Felix ran the second leg on the 4×400 mixed relay squad in what she said would be her last event. Since then, she’s had a few speaking engagements and attended The ESPYS in Los Angeles. She’s back for another appearance at Hayward Field.

Subscriber Only StoriesView All

PremiumUPSC Key-October 11, 2022: Why you should read ‘Caste Politics’ or ‘Urban...

PremiumHow a young Indian startup is making calculators ‘smart’ for millions of ...

PremiumUPSC Essentials: Key terms of the past week with MCQs

PremiumSaifai lines up at ‘Netaji’ home for a last glimpse: ‘He gave us energy’Buy at just Rs 66 per month nowTop Sports News NowSourav Ganguly out of BCCI after declining IPL chairman postSouth Africa left with questions to answer ahead of T20 World Cup after India drubbingNRAI introduces Olympic trials to pick shooting team for ParisClick here for more

“When I got the call, I locked in and refocused,” Felix said.

The third-place finish in the mixed relay gave Felix her 19th medal at world championships, extending a record she already held. Add in her 11 Olympic medals and it brings the total to an even 30.

At the Tokyo Olympics last year, she was on the gold-medal women’s 4×400 relay as part of a “dream team” with Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Athing Mu. The foursome extended the American’s gold-medal winning streak in the event to seven at the Olympics.

AdvertisementREAD |While You Were Asleep: Sweden score stoppage time winner to beat Belgium in Euro 2022, England thump South Africa by 118 runs, West Ham agree £30.5m fee with Sassuolo for Gianluca Scamacca

Felix leaves quite a big footprint on track. In addition to her bounty of medals, she’s also stared down Nike on pregnancy issues during her journey toward becoming an advocate for women’s right. She also started her own footwear company called Saysh.

Now, there’s a chance for one more victory lap. She’s soaking in the moment with her 3-year-old daughter, Camryn, in attendance.

First published on: 23-07-2022 at 10:47:56 am Next Story

Chandigarh: Punjab CM’s residence fined Rs 10,000 for littering waste

Tags:World Athleics ChampionshipWorld Athletics Championships 2022Explained Climate |