Allyson Felix coming "completely full circle" in Eugene as track legend readies to call time on career

It's going to be a sentimental few days for Allyson Felix as she finally calls time on her storied track and field career. Especially as she will get to do so on home soil in the United States, at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in Eugene, Oregon.

Felix, the most-decorated track and field athlete in American history (18 medals including 13 golds from nine World Championships up to 2019 and 11 medals including seven golds from five Olympic Games), will bow out on the opening day of the first Worlds on American soil on Friday (15 July 2022) as part of the U.S. mixed 4x400m relay team. She did not qualify in the individual 400m event; instead, her sixth-placed finish at U.S. Trials secured her a place on the mixed relay.

Speaking at a pre-event press conference on Thursday, the 36-year-old readily answered questions ahead of her farewell from elite athletics after a 19-year senior career, which began at the 2003 Worlds in Paris, France. "I've really enjoyed my time over the years," Felix reminisced.

"There have been lots of ups and downs – I love the sport so much, it's broken my heart many times but I've also had many joyous moments, so for me it's just completely full circle to be able to come here to end at home. It's just going to be very special."

Felix is the oldest member of the mixed 4x400m relay group, with the other members aged 20 to 23. "I think the kind of the biggest thing I can bring to the relay is just experience, you know, having been on all sorts of relays," she said. "We've been having a really fun time. It's a really young group, which is really cool for me to be a part of and just get to talk to people and get to share.

"I think it's going to be really emotional, you know? I don't quite know what to expect, but I'm just going to take it all in. I'm going to have fun. It's the last, last one for me. So I'm going to leave all out there."

READ MORE: Allyson Felix's career in numbers

Allyson Felix leaving a legacy for female athletes

Felix will leave the sport with more than just her accomplishments on the track – she has also immeasurably changed the picture off it, especially for female athletes.

"I hope that I'll be remembered as a fierce competitor. But I think more importantly to me is really trying to leave the sport better than I found it," she said Thursday. "I'm trying to really support female athletes and just women in general, and fight for more equality."

This has taken life in various forms. First, and perhaps most notably, Felix was one of a number of female athletes who spoke out against powerful sponsor Nike after the sportswear giant penalised its female athletes who took time away from the sport to give birth.

As men's 200m favourite Noah Lyles pointed out in the same press conference when asked to speak about Felix, "when she was going up against Nike, it's one person against a corporation. I don't think some people understand how big Nike has an influence over the U.S., like that is a firm grasp.

"And for one woman, one Black woman, to go up against that and speak their mind and speak for what they believe is right, that in itself, to have the courage to try, is something that I feel that young people should be watching for years to come."

Nike eventually backed down and changed their sponsorship contracts with female athletes to continue supporting them through and after pregnancy.

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Allyson Felix helping athlete mothers and parents

After a difficult pregnancy, Felix gave birth to daughter Camryn in 2018, making a successful return to the track at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. However, reflecting on her career Thursday, the American legend described the period after Camryn's birth as the toughest of her long competitive life.

"I think the past three years have been the most challenging for sure, and now as I kind of look back on those years, I can't believe that I made it through," she said.

"You know, it's been really incredible, and it's so special now that my daughter will be here in the stands for this moment and I get to tell her, you know what it has meant and what my career has meant. It's really rewarding to finally get to this point and kind of fight through all that adversity."

Felix, in co-operation with her current sponsors, has also decided to help provide the sort of practical assistance that athletes who are mothers have missed out on until now: free childcare.

"When I came back, I had my first World Championships and my daughter, she was ten months old. And my eyes just opened up how hard it is to just travel and the logistics of everything of having a child and being on a competitive team," Felix observed.

"And so we just wanted to think about how can we support women better who choose to have families? Because I truly believe that they're still absolutely capable and they can still have some of their best performances. So the childcare one was one that I felt like it's a barrier, you know, it's not something that seems like this huge thing, but it's just one thing that you can take off your plate.

"When we offer childcare, our first event was Nationals, and it was not just for women, it was for men, for officials or coaches. And I think it's just a better way to support in a holistic way. And I hope that we can have the support to continue that on and just further it. I really want it to be the norm and the standard."

READ MORE: Here’s a look at the daily schedule and highlights at Worlds

Perhaps the biggest compliment to the legacy Felix has already created, and will leave, came from heptathlete Anna Hall, answering the same question as Lyles about their memories of Felix. Addressing the GOAT directly, Hall said: "I grew up with posters of you on my wall, and on my sister's wall. My family talked about you all the time, you were definitely a household name where we're from.

"I distinctly remember my family and I went to watch the 2016 (U.S. Olympic) Trials and you came around and then took a picture with my little sister. I just watched how gracious you were with her – you were so patient, and just the way that you carried yourself your entire career has really just set a great example for the rest of the girls in America to follow in sport, so thank you."

To catch all the action from the Track and Field Worlds, check out our guide on how to watch Allyson Felix in action.

You can also stay tuned to Olympics.com as we will bring you live blog updates from every session of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, as well as features and previews from all the key events.