Athlete extraordinaire, sister par exemplary and entrepreneur savvy. These are just some monikers that ring true for Allyson Felix. What’s more? She shares a symbiotic bond with her brother dearest. “I want to be able to leave room to be able to say, ‘No, there’s like real stuff to do out there beyond just doing a deal,” said Wes Felix. He wanted to start a brand alongside his sister and that wish came true, courtesy of his sister, Allyson Felix. The track and field agent shares a close bond with his sister. Despite the turbulence of the Nike controversy, Wes stood steadfast as Allyson’s pillar of support. Felix is fully on board with the project as well. With her head deep in the business game, we can’t help but harken back to 2004, when she first made it to the Olympic Trials with her brother, albeit in a jocular manner. With her brand Saysh taking the world by storm, the duo is now on celluloid as well.

The commercial for their brand has already hit the market and has been reported on by the Times. The brand debuted during the US Track & Field Olympic Trials. It has already garnered significant attention, signaling a promising start for the sibling duo’s venture. As they embark on this new journey, their bond and tenacity promise to propel them to success. How does their legacy stand the test of time, though, and what hilarious anecdotes about their journey back in time to their maiden Olympic trials can we look forward to? Don’t fret as Wes has got us covered.

Allyson Felix and her brother dream big

Recently, Wes Felix, Allyson Felix’s brother took to Instagram to share a story praising his sister’s brand. With the tagline, ‘Legends Do It First,’ Wes wrote in the captions, “I hope the significance of this moment inspires track athletes to never forget your worth. You are worth more than, ‘whatever someone is willing to pay you.’ You can build your own. Never stop dreaming. Never stop fighting. Keep going.” He recalled back to the 2004 Olympic trials when the two shared a room in the Hilton, and twenty years later, it’s unbelievable that they have founded a company together which is still going strong. They had a plan in mind to get there and that was executed perfectly by saving money and even booking a rental car, thus bringing back memories for the both of them. This watershed moment might just be one instance as to how Saysh and Felix’s gumption gives synergy to their dreams and flights of passion. 

The brother-sister duo has already secured a multi-million dollar deal with Series A. It’s a funding round, which attracts investors like Iris Ventures, Redpoint Ventures and Gap Inc’s Athleta Division. The company is focused on women’s empowerment. Felix’s advocacy for women became apparent during her legal battle with Nike. Felix was sponsored by them for a long time. However, this changed when Nike cut her paycheck by 70% half and viewed her pregnancy as a liability. Given her experiences with the big sports apparel companies, Felix decided to launch her own brand, Saysh post the disband. 

Saysh is effectively a community-centered lifestyle brand co-founded by Allyson and her brother. Its purpose is to enhance women’s creativity and promote their athleticism. Their first product, the Saysh One sneaker, was designed with women in mind. The sole is engineered in such a way that it supports the contours of a woman’s foot specifically. Though thousands of female athletes around the world are competing, next to no brands have contributed to women’s footwear design, making it a blind-spot in the market. So, being a female athlete herself, Felix has taken up the unique initiative on her shoulders. It’s also expected to launch in the Canadian market, which is just a step further into global domination. 

Allyson Felix and other female athletes catering to the female market 

Allyson Felix stands amongst the most decorated track and field athletes in American history. She has amassed a wealth of 11 Olympic medals, including 7 gold and 3 silver. Her career, which has spanned over 2 decades, is often touted as inspiring for young girls everywhere. She continues to compete and succeed after having a family and a child is also a testament to her dedication. She’s not alone in her entrepreneurial ventures. Athletes like Serena Williams have also launched their own brands.

Williams in particular has several tech startups, some of which are in collaboration with her husband and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. She also has a clothing brand. Additionally, Billie Jean King founded the WTA and WSF, which have opened doors for female tennis players. Even UFC Champion Ronda Rousey has founded a self-defense program called ‘Rousey Revolution’. It surely seems that the future will be much brighter for female athletes.