American Sprint Legend Opens Up on Demanding Role at IOC as She Attends Winter Games

American sprint legend Allyson Felix is no stranger to the Olympic Games, but her current experience is a world away from the track.

The legendary sprinter is attending her second Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a position she was elected to in Paris.

A five-time Olympian, Allyson Felix retired as the most decorated track and field athlete in history, boasting an incredible 11 Olympic medals, seven of which are gold.

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Since stepping away from competition, she has expanded her influence significantly. In 2020, she launched her own shoe company, Saysh, and in 2024, she co-founded Always Alpha, a talent management agency dedicated to representing female athletes.

Allyson Felix’s position on the IOC provides a new platform to advocate for change and help guide the future of the Olympic movement.

"I feel like I can contribute a lot, especially with just wanting to modernise the Games and really wanting to reach the younger generation," Felix told SBJ.

"And also being that constant athlete voice and never forgetting that. And with multiple Games being in the U.S., that perspective as well."

The Los Angeles native is poised to offer valuable insights as the IOC, under new President Kirsty Coventry, undertakes its "Fit for the Future" reforms.

This comprehensive review will address everything from the IOC's commercial strategy with its top sponsors and broadcast partners to the selection of sports for future Olympic programs.

Allyson Felix’s influence is already being felt, according to fellow IOC member and USOPC Chair Gene Sykes.

"It’s really nice to be heard and to have a voice and to feel like we are contributing. She immediately brings stature because of the quality of her athletic success in the Olympic movement, so people think of her as representative of what it means to be an incredibly successful and distinctive Olympian," he explained.

"She speaks with authority... when she speaks, people listen to her because she’s thoughtful, she’s fair and she reflects what she has gone through to achieve what she’s done."

Beyond her business ventures and IOC duties, Allyson Felix remains a passionate advocate for Black maternal health. In 2024, her efforts were bolstered by a $20 million grant from the Melinda French Gates Foundation.

Allyson Felix juggles these demanding roles while raising her two children, Camryn and Kenneth, with her husband, Kenneth Ferguson. She acknowledges the challenges of balancing her professional passions with family life.

"To me it’s really important to do the work I’m passionate about, and some days it works really well and some days I feel like I’m here and I’m missing my kids and I’m missing moments and it’s tough," she admitted.

"But I have a great support system and try to lean into that instead of thinking I can handle everything on my own. So I don’t have all the answers, but I’m doing the best that I can."