Allyson Felix is not done with racing just yet. At 40, the most decorated woman in track and field history has made a surprise move. She now wants to return to the sport and chase one more Olympic dream, this time at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Felix had stepped away in 2022. She ended her career after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she added to her already huge medal count. At that time, it looked like a full stop. She had her family, her legacy, and a long list of achievements no one could easily match. But now, things have changed.Speaking to Time Magazine, Felix shared that the thought of returning stayed with her. It did not go away. After years of thinking, she decided to take the risk again. “Let’s go after the thing. Let’s be vulnerable,” she said. That decision means she will try to train, compete, and possibly qualify again, even while knowing she is no longer at her peak. Still, for Felix, this is not just about medals. It is about pushing limits in a new stage of life.
Allyson Felix Olympic comeback plan at 40 targets Los Angeles 2028 after 11 medals and 2022 retirement
Felix’s career numbers already place her among the greatest ever. She has 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds. She also holds a record 20 medals from World Championships. No other woman in track and field has reached that level.Her only individual Olympic gold came in the 200 meters at the London 2012 Olympics, while the rest came in relay events. Even before retirement, she had already built a career that most athletes can only dream of.Now, she is planning her next steps carefully. Felix said she will begin full-time training again in October with her longtime coach, Bobby Kersee. The goal is not rushed. She wants to compete in 2027 first, then aim for the Olympics a year later. She understands the doubts people may have.“I totally get the person who sticks around too long,” she said. “I know, at 40, I am not at my peak.” That honesty shows she is not chasing an old version of herself. Instead, she is trying to see what is still possible now.Away from the track, Felix’s life has changed a lot. She is a mother of two, her daughter Camryn and her son Trey. Her journey into motherhood was not easy. She had an emergency C-section during her first pregnancy, and both she and her baby faced serious risks. Camryn even spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit. That moment changed how Felix saw her career. After that, she became a strong voice for mothers in sports. She spoke openly about the pressure to return quickly after childbirth, even when the body is not ready. She also ended her partnership with Nike in 2019. In a New York Times op-ed, she explained why.“I asked Nike to contractually guarantee that I wouldn’t be punished if I didn’t perform at my best in the months surrounding childbirth,” she wrote. “I wanted to set a new standard.” Nike did not agree, and the two sides went their separate ways. Since retiring, Felix has also stayed connected to sports in other ways. She joined the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, giving her a role in shaping the future of the Olympics.Still, the track never fully left her. Now, with the Olympics set to take place in her home city, the pull feels even stronger. She knows the road will be hard. Training at 40, balancing family life, and competing against younger athletes will not be easy. But Felix is not trying to prove she is the same athlete she once was. She is trying to see how far she can go now.