Two of the most dominant athletes in the history of American track and field are Carl Lewis and Jackie Joyner Kersee. Lewis, in a career that spanned 1978 to 1996, won nine Olympic gold medals and Olympic silver medal and 10 championship medals, including nine gold. Joyner Kersee is considered one of the greatest heptathlon and long jump athletes in the history of the sport. She also distinguished herself in basketball at the collegiate level and briefly played at the professional level. It is not surprising, then, that when Allyson Felix, who became the most decorated woman in track and field after winning the bronze medal in the 400-meter final at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo on Saturday, joined their ranks they were the first to congratulate her. Carl Lewis tweeted “35 never looked so good. What an amazing career and inspiration.” Joyner Kersee remarked “From the very first day she stepped on the track, and now as she steps off the track, her journey will continue to inspire young girls and young women alike to be the very best of themselves” Today, Felix received her 11th career medal, a gold in the 4 x 400 relay. This accomplishment means that Felix has received more medals than any other American in track and field history.
Born in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, Felix attended Los Angeles Baptist High School. Her sprinting ability was recognized by her high school sprint coach Jonathan Patton, Felix participated in track trials when she was in 9th grade, which allowed her to participate in the CIF California State Meet. She finished seventh in the competition. Not discouraged by her performance, Felix became a five-time winner at the same event in subsequent years. She was nicknamed “Chicken” because of long and extremely skinny legs. This physical trait proved helpful in propelling her track and field career . In 2001 at the Debrecen World Youth Championship, Felix made an international reputation for herself in the 100-meter. Given her impressive performances in various track and sprint events, she was named national girls’ “High School Athlete of the Year” by Track and Field News. She cemented her reputation at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She became the youngest sprinter to win gold. Felix’s achievements garnered the attention of sponsor Adidas who supported her education at the University of Southern California.
Felix has consistently medaled at Olympic competitions. During her 2004 Olympic debut in Athens, Greece, Felix received the silver medal in the 200-meter. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, she took gold and a silver medal in the 4x400 relay and 200 meters. In the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, she won gold medals in the 4x400 relay, 4x100 relay, and 200 meters. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, she received medals in the 4x 400 relay, 4 x 100 relay and 400 meters.
Felix reached the apex of her career at the 2020 Olympics. Coached by Bob Kersee, the husband of Jackie Joyner Kersee , she has achieved a bronze medal in the 400 meter and gold in the 4X400 relay. Allyson Felix has 19 world championship medals and 11 Olympic medals. As the most decorated track and field star in the history of the sport, Felix’s success can be attributed to her perseverance, preparation and ability.