Sometimes one disappointment can have a huge impact on one’s life. Legendary Olympian Allyson Felix has a similar story. Despite being perhaps the biggest track and field star during her time, Felix had to fight for a very basic right to be paid during her pregnancy. That fight ultimately turned her from an iconic athlete into an even more successful entrepreneur. So how did Felix first lock horns with Nike?

The story is as interesting as her career. Despite having a lucrative contract with Nike, Felix decided to shun them. The reason was quite simple: she felt disrespected. However, instead of accepting their rules, the Olympian decided to start a movement to bring about change. And as of 2024, Allyson Felix is winning. So what is this story of courage and persistence? It’s time to find out.

Allyson Felix launched a shoe brand after ending her deal with Nike 

Allyson Felix owns Saysh, the popular footwear company. However, the story of its founding is quite interesting. In 2018, Allyson Felix gave birth to her daughter, Camryin. However, it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. 32 weeks into her pregnancy, Felix was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition common in African-American women. With her blood pressure constantly rising, the situation proved to be life-threatening for her and her unborn daughter. As a result, Felix was forced to undergo an emergency C-section to give birth prematurely to Camryin.

The situation was already quite tense for her, but things took a turn for the worse soon. Felix had just signed a contract with Nike in 2017. However, the contract stipulated that Nike would withhold 70% of her payment if she got pregnant during the whole tenure of that deal. Essentially, the company was not only denying her maternity leave but also actively discouraging her from having a baby.

That situation proved to be the dealbreaker for Felix. As a result, she immediately ended her contract with Nike and signed with Gap, Inc. Her exit forced Nike to alter their policy, but it was far too late. However, it gave Felix the motivation to make a lasting change, and she finally did just that in 2021 when she founded her own footwear company, Saysh.

The vision behind the USA Track and Field star’s business venture 

The 11-time Olympic medalist started Saysh with just one mission: to champion women’s specific needs. Her difficult experience with pregnancy and Nike’s contract made it important for Allyson Felix to give fairer treatment to female athletes. As a result, Saysh is her way of doing something worthwhile for women. However, outside of that, she also wanted to make specialized footwear just for female athletes.

“Being a runner, I wanted to bring a performance shoe to the space. It’s different because it is made specifically to fit the form of the female foot. The majority of (shoes) are made off of a last of a man’s foot,” Felix said in an interview. This was her way of giving women a product that was designed just for them. In Felix’s eye, the women’s sports footwear market is extremely underserved and is open for a revolutionary change.

So as it stands, Saysh is fulfilling that very specific need. As for Felix, she gave birth to a son in 2024. As her family grows, so does her business and endeavors, like opening the first-ever Olympic Village Nursery in the Paris Olympics. Despite being out of the field for a long time, Felix hasn’t stopped competing. But then, that’s what winners do—they win.