Allyson Felix opens up being inspired by legendary gymnast Dominique Dawes as she reflects on the importance of 'African-American representation’

Allyson Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete of all time and is an inspiration for many. Recently, the retired sprinter opened up about seeing Dominique Dawes compete at the 1996 Olympic Games and how it was the first time she had seen someone who looked like her performing on the global stage.

Felix led a long and legendary career, which saw her claim seven Olympic gold medals as well as 14 World Championships titles. The American competed at five consecutive Olympic Games between 2004 and 2020 and won a medal in each appearance.

Recently, in an interview with Glamour Magazine, Felix spoke about watching Dominique Dawes compete at the 1996 Games, said,

“It was the 1996 Olympics and seeing Dominique Dawes compete, that was the first time seeing somebody who looked like me, who was a young girl, doing something incredible. I completely was just, fascinated by seeing her.

Felix has always been an outspoken fan of Dawes and her achievements. Previously, in an interview with Business Insider, she explained that she wanted to inspire the next generation the way the gymnast had inspired her,

“I think it's really important to be an African American woman at the Olympics. I think representation is extremely important. For me it's a privilege and an honor to be there representing and knowing that little girls and boys are back home and hopefully they find inspiration from this. I know for myself that was true, I watched Dominique Dawes and I was fascinated by her and her performance in the Olympics, and I really want to do the same.”

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Allyson Felix on the Nike controversy

Allyson Felix on the Nike controversy (Image Source: Getty)

Outside of being an inspiration to athletes, Allyson Felix has been a staunch advocate for new moms in the world of sports. In 2019, the American national spoke out against Nike’s treatment of new mothers, leading to a dramatic upheaval in the company's maternal policies.

In the interview with Glamour, she called the entire ordeal a ‘fight’, criticizing the footwear giant, and iterated:

“I mean, it was such a fight. You want them to change and embrace it. They’re this huge company. They should be leaders in supporting moms. But it feels like women’s sports is having a moment and now they’re showing up. It just seems like, if it was authentic, it would have been done a long time ago.”

For her part, Allyson Felix launched her own footwear brand named ‘Saysh’ after parting ways with Nike. She has also continued to advocate for mothers in sports and was responsible for launching a nursery at the Paris Olympics.