Allyson Felix Joins Melinda Gates & A Gymnastics Legend to Help Suffering Mothers Ahead of The Paris Olympics

Allyson Felix and Nike have stood the test of time, not exactly in the best of ways though. Do you remember when Allyson Felix was offered a 70% pay cut by Nike just because she was pregnant in 2017? Nike’s contract at that time failed to include the maternity protections she requested. Since then, Felix has been turning the tables left and right just for the rights of women! Despite hanging up her spikes in 2022, the 11-time Olympic medalist and three-time consecutive world champion isn’t sitting on the sidelines. With the Paris Olympics just around the corner, parent athletes face more hurdles than their peers.

However, Allyson Felix has made a substantial impact in addressing the issues, paving the way for better support and recognition for mother athletes in the same way Melinda Gates and Shawn Johnson did! On July 9th, Allyson Felix made mind-blowing news! She is using her experience as a mother of two to provide mother athletes with better support during the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Felix has teamed up with Pampers to create the first-ever Pampers Nursery in the Athletes Village at the Paris Olympics. This will ease some pressure on moms during the competition. Yes, you heard that right. Her novel idea will bring to life the intermingling of vacation and vocation for mothers vying to spend time with their little tots.

“I knew firsthand how tough it was to compete at the top level after having my daughter. Some practical things were really hard. So, when I joined the Athletes Commission of the IOC, I wanted to be that voice for athlete moms and remove one more thing for them to worry about during the competition,” Felix told CBS News. The Pampers Nursery will be located in the heart of the Athlete Village Plaza, where athletes live during the games.

It will provide a place for athletes to step away and have private time with their babies. “I think it sends a strong message that women can choose motherhood and still be at the top of their game without missing a beat,” said Felix. This initiative shows that Felix isn’t just talking the talk but walking the walk, ensuring that Olympic moms can have their cake and eat it too. But she had one foundation for women athletes.

She qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as a mother, just 4 years after a challenging emergency c-section delivery at 32 weeks pregnant. At that time,  Felix became an icon of perseverance and achievement for athletes and mothers worldwide. Inspired by her own experiences and witnessing a fellow athlete struggle with childcare during a pivotal race, Felix partnered with Athleta and the nonprofit &Mother in 2021 to establish an initiative: free childcare for athlete moms and their support teams at major track events like the USA Track and Field Championships. But in this process, she wasn’t alone!

Inspired by Allyson Felix, these women are transforming the world!

In April 2024, Melinda French Gates pledged $1 billion over the next two years to support women and families globally. Her focus was on reproductive rights and gender equity. As part of her initiative, she has partnered with athlete and maternal health advocate Allyson Felix, among others, allocating $20 million to distribute funds aimed at improving women’s health both in the U.S. and internationally.

It aligns closely with Felix’s efforts to support athlete mothers through childcare initiatives and grants, showing their shared goal of dismantling systemic barriers and promoting inclusive solutions that benefit women and girls worldwide. Also, Shawn Johnson launched one foundation.

On April 10th, 2024, Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East, former elite athletes and parents of three, launched the Moment Makers Foundation to champion meaningful family experiences. Inspired by Allyson Felix’s impactful Child Care Grant in 2021, they are starting with their Moment Makers Grant, committing $250,000 to assist parents competing in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games with childcare expenses. This initiative aims to level the playing field for athletes balancing Olympic aspirations with parenting responsibilities, ensuring they can focus on their game without financial strain.

Shawn Johnson East, a 4-time Olympic Medalist, highlighted their motivation: “We want to help Olympic and Paralympic athletes ease the burden of childcare costs as they represent Team USA.” It’s crucial to recognize that athletes often shoulder personal expenses, including childcare, during their rigorous training. By supporting them in this way, Johnson aims to lighten their load so they can excel on the world stage without distraction. How do you feel about women lifting each other up? It’s truly empowering, isn’t it?