Allyson Felix keeps blowing us away!
As if being the most decorated track and field Olympian in history isn’t enough, Felix is now giving back to fellow athletes who are tackling motherhood.
That’s right, Felix knows what it means to be worried about childcare while training and competing and has announced a $200,000 grant aimed at covering childcare costs for professional athletes while they compete during the rest of 2021.
According to Fast Company, the new partnership is sponsored by Athleta and the Women’s Sports Foundation and has already awarded nine athletes $10,000.
Olympic hammer throw Gwen Berry and Olympic saber fencer Mariel Zagunis are among the first group of recipients.
“One of my first races back after giving birth to my daughter, Camryn, was the World Championships,” said Felix. “Not only was I still breastfeeding and physically and mentally exhausted from being a first-time mom while training and competing — I was assigned a roommate at the competition. There was no way I could bring my daughter into a shared room with another athlete who is trying to get in her zone.”
Just a few months later, Felix signed a sponsorship deal with Athleta, Gap Inc.’s activewear brand.
“They get that I am a whole person beyond the track,” continued Felix. “They jumped right in to support my training as well as my passions and advocacy platforms. In fact, part of my contract with Athleta includes provisions for Cammy to join me whenever I am competing. ”
Despite their support, Felix understands that this kind of support is not common from a sponsor when it comes to childcare.
Because of this, Felix wanted to create something that would allow other mom athletes to get the childcare support that they need while competing at the highest levels.
The Women’s Sports Foundation which was founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King in 1974, will allocate the $200,000.
Applications for the grant program are now open through August 31 and winners will be announced in October.
Click here for more on how to apply.
