Years After Nike Fallout, US Olympian Allyson Felix Joins Naomi Osaka and Tennis Moms in Advocating For Maternity Pay

Allyson Felix, one of the most accomplished US track and field athletes out there, continues to inspire the world with her persistent focus off-track. Leaving her indelible mark on the sport with her splendid achievements, the retired athletics legend’s significance goes beyond the podium. Since her retirement from the track, after her 2022 season, Felix has kept herself engaged in embracing the roles of motherhood while simultaneously advocating for the sport.

Years after her highly publicized fallout with Nike over maternity protections wherein she was coerced to contend with a 70% cut due to pregnancy, was a highly distasteful move for her. Felix is found at the vanguard of yet another historic movement with similar undertones. She has joined tennis icon Naomi Osaka and other mothers in sports, as they continue to advocate for maternity pay in track and field, and how.

Trailblazing athletes herald an epochal era of open dialogue and resolution

20-time World Champion Allyson Felix took to her Instagram account to reshare the touching maternity post of the most decorated Japanese tennis player, Naomi Osaka. It also simultaneously highlights the advocacy efforts of her and a myriad of other tennis moms. The original post has been shared by the Uninterrupted and Hanakuma’s Instagram official page.

In this post, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Osaka, seems exuberant holding a little baby. She recently welcomed her first child, daughter Shai, in July 2023 with her American rapper boyfriend Cordae. This post image mentions that “Mothers on tour advocate for maternity pay in the women’s tennis associations.” 

It subsequently featured a carousel of other prominent moms like Victoria Azarenka and Tatjana Maria standing in solidarity as well. Osaka goes on to bemoan that – “I think (maternity pay) would definitely be life-changing and I feel like having a kid shouldn’t feel like a punishment”. With this reshare by Felix herself, other nebulous and pertinent issues revolving the same need to be addressed.

Across her 19-year professional career, Allyson Felix has spearheaded important discussions regarding motherhood. She had challenged Nike’s offer of a 70% reduced salary during her pregnancy, which prompted her to fight for ‘maternity protection’. Facing sponsorship challenges after leaving Nike in 2019, she took to launch her own brand, “Saysh,” right before the Tokyo Olympics.

Pioneering maternity rights in athletics a la the Allyson Felix way

Allyson Felix is expecting her second baby, a baby boy, with husband Kenneth Ferguson. It was during her initial pregnancy that sparked her advocacy for maternity rights in sports. Felix even took to testify before the US House Committee on Ways and Means, to address the black maternal mortality challenges bringing it to the limelight.

Read more: “Pregnancy Out Loud”: Allyson Felix Receives Huge Amount of Love From Fans After Flaunting Her Pregnancy Unlike Her First Time

Talking about the need for financial foundation, she adds, “I believe that we should celebrate our victories along the way, but we must continue to push forward to guarantee that we are actually experiencing equality and seeing that through our financial situation.”

Naomi Osaka also has credited Felix for opening up the discussions for maternity rights of pregnant athletes. Osaka remarked, “She’s paved the way for a lot of us,” as she is midway through her pregnancy. Felix’s impact has become a changing force for women’s rights globally.

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