Later this week, Allyson Felix will head to Paris for this year’s Olympic Games – but this time, she won’t be bringing her running spikes.
Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, holding a record of 20 World Championship medals and 11 medals at the Olympic Games – 7 of which being gold. This year, the mother of two will be heading to the Olympic Games alongside her family to introduce the first ever Olympic Village nursery in partnership with Pampers, leveraging her past experiences to provide mothers with greater support during the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Pampers is working to support preemie parents alongside the U.S. Track & Field legend and mother through a donation of up to one million preemie diapers to NICUs nationwide. From July 2, 2024, through September 2, 2024, Pampers will donate one Pampers Preemie Swaddlers diaper to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals for every purchase of a Pampers Swaddlers Huge Pack at Walmart, up to one million diapers.
After having one of the most successful athletic careers in history, Allyson Felix will continue to break barriers for the sport of track and field. Felix has been actively advocating for women to not have to choose between motherhood and their professions, which was something that was not addressed enough when she was in the midst of her career.
“I was first really aware that this issue was not talked about enough after I had my daughter, and I came back to compete.
Felix says, “there are just so many different challenges surrounding motherhood as an athlete. Traveling and staying in hotels was a challenge because of the lack of baby essentials, or even having to nurse while competing in a packed stadium.” This is when she knew that she had to make a change within the system.
Felix isn’t new to using her voice for the voiceless. She has been a vocal advocate for maternal health following her own traumatic birthing experience. Her daughter, born two months prematurely, spent a month in the NICU due to Felix’s severe preeclampsia. With maternal mortality in the U.S. disproportionately affecting Black mothers, Felix has dedicated herself to improving outcomes and providing equitable care for women and mothers. She has testified before the United States Congress about Black maternal mortality and has spoken on the issue publicly worldwide.
The nursery will be located in this year’s Olympic Village, giving families a space to get ‘away from it all, ‘ Felix says with a smile on her face. With the help of Pampers, the nursey will not only give Olympians a safe place to nurse, play, and bond with their baby’s, but they also will get to utilize Pamper’s products for free – all while still chasing their Olympic dreams to the fullest.
