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Allyson Felix may be the most decorated US Olympian in women’s track and field history, but the six-time gold medalist wants her legacy to go beyond her hardware. Just ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Felix is starring in Pantene’s new What’s Your Legacy campaign to share more of her life as an activist and mother to her 2-year-old daughter, Camryn.
“I feel humbled and proud to be a part of the What’s Your Legacy campaign,” Felix told ELLE.com over Zoom. “I love that they’re highlighting that my legacy is more than just what I’ve done on the track. It is about speaking up and using my voice, and also this heritage with my daughter and how I’ll pass that down to her.” For Felix, this also includes beauty traditions. “Growing up, it was really special when my mom used to do my hair. It was this time where we got to bond and spend time together. And so now as I start to do my daughter Cammy’s hair, we get to pass down this tradition,” she adds.
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Ahead, Felix talks about her new partnership with Pantene, the upcoming Olympics, and why she’s “really proud” of Naomi Osaka for standing up for female athletes and mental health.
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Do you remember when you first started using Pantene?
When I was younger, we did somewhere along the way. Still, when the Gold Series came out, it was this re-introduction and a product made by Black scientists and perfected by Black stylists. Being able to wear my hair in its natural state or however I want to wear it. To be able to have these products that help my hair stay healthy and able to manage it has been special.
What was your reaction when you found out the Olympics were going to be postponed?
I was devastated. I mean, as an athlete, everything is just about timing, and it’s so strategic. For me, I was like, oh my gosh, I’m going to be a year older. I was ready now. I just had to take the space to kind of grieve it and be like, okay, it’s not going to look like what I imagined. Once I gave myself that time, I was like, okay, I’ve got to pick myself up and pivot and figure out how to continue. It was a difficult time once I heard the news.
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How has your training for this Olympics differed from previous years?
I continued training ultimately throughout [lockdown]. I did workouts in my neighborhood, literally on the streets in front of my home and at the park or an isolated soccer field. Since I have so much experience and I’m older, I’ve just had to be smarter, train wiser, and give myself recovery with all the intense workouts. It’s still the same intensity. I feel like I’ve had to tweak things here and there.
Do you have any personal or professional goals for this Olympics?
Every Olympics I go to I would love to come away with gold medals. That is definitely my goal. But I would also say this one is much more than just competing. It’s about just getting there for me. It’s about telling my daughter these stories of overcoming adversity, these crazy last couple of years, and what it means to be a fighter and not give up when things get hard.
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Can you walk me through your beauty routine and how that fits into training?
As a professional athlete, it’s a pretty healthy lifestyle. I’m training every day, and that has helped me with my wellness. Then beauty, I’m training outside in the sun pretty much every day. I’m really about the health of my skin. I love the SK-II cleanser, and I use that and then Olay moisturizer with SPF. Depending on what I’m doing, I might put on makeup if I’m going out with friends.
Do you have any advice for other working moms during this really weird time?
Be kind to yourself. I think we’re all trying to figure it out, and I’ve had to give myself grace through it all. I feel like there are days at work on the track, I feel like I’m thriving, and everything’s clicking, and it’s great. And then I come home, and I’m like, oh my gosh, I’m not doing as well as I want to do here. I cannot make dinner, or my daughter is up all night, and things are just chaotic. It’s just leaning into your support system and realizing that every day is not going to be great. And that’s okay.
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Mental health has become a serious topic in sports, particularly for female athletes. How do you feel about this conversation?
I think it’s so important. I’m just really proud of Naomi Osaka and everything that she stood up for. And I feel like a lot of times, women have to advocate for themselves, and I don’t think they should, but it’s something that we’ve had to do. It’s such an important conversation to have and holding authorities accountable. Sometimes things are in place for so long that we go along with them, and we have to challenge some of those systems that have been in play.
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How do you approach your mental health as a Black female athlete?
I have to pay attention to what I need and take space when I need it, and understand that I’m up against a lot. There’s a lot of pressure, and there are many barriers to break, and sometimes it can just feel overwhelming. And I think just for me, even just acknowledging that, is one step. And saying that, sometimes I’ll need to take more time to get through this or talk to someone about it. Just realizing that is a big part of it.
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