The most decorated track and field athlete in history is lacing up her spikes once more. Allyson Felix, 40, has revealed plans to return to competition for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, four years after retiring from the sport.
In an interview with Time, the 11-time Olympic medalist explained that the opportunity to compete in her hometown was the driving force behind her decision. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime homecoming and it is the only thing powerful enough to pull me back," she said.
Felix began privately planning her comeback last year, a move that surprised even her brother and business partner, Wes Felix. "I felt there was a zero percent chance that's what she was going to say," he admitted.
The sprinter, who last competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she won bronze in the 400m to claim her historic 10th Olympic medal, draws inspiration from veteran athletes like Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Lindsey Vonn, who have continued to excel in their 40s.
"So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing," Felix said. "At this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids. But why not? Let's flip it on its head. Let's go after the thing."
Mother to seven-year-old Camryn and two-year-old Trey with husband Kenneth Ferguson, Felix acknowledges the challenge ahead. "I know, at 40, I am not at my peak. I have no illusions about that," she said. "But I would probably be upset at myself if I just didn't give it a try."
Watching the 2024 Paris Games from the sidelines stirred mixed emotions. "There were moments where I was like, 'Oh, this is so great. It's so exciting to be in the stands.' And then there were moments where I was, 'You know, I miss this feeling,'" she recalled.
With the Los Angeles Olympics set to be a homecoming like no other, Felix is ready to write the next chapter of her legendary career.