Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix has teamed up with Pampers to establish the first-ever nursery to assist athlete parents in the Olympic Village.
Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in history, revealed the plans for the Pampers Nursery during an appearance on CBS Mornings on Wednesday.
Now retired from competition, the mother of two has been outspoken about the challenges of balancing being a top athlete and a parent, and currently serves on the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission.
“I understood how tough it was to compete at the highest level after having my daughter, and some everyday things were really difficult,” Felix said during the live interview. “I wanted to be a voice for athlete moms and alleviate some of their concerns amidst the pressure of competition.”
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The nursery will be situated in the heart of the Athlete Village Plaza. “This space is designed for playtime, feeding babies, and getting away from the noise of the Olympic games,” explained Felix.
Felix views the nursery as a catalyst for a cultural shift that demonstrates women can choose motherhood and still excel in their sport.
In 2019, Felix helped spark public outcry after The New York Times published her op-ed detailing how Nike, her longtime sponsor, intended to reduce her pay following her pregnancy. This led to Nike implementing a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes.
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Felix has shared her story of facing a life-threatening pregnancy complication that necessitated an emergency C-section for the birth of her first child. Despite the challenges, she felt pressured to compete at the same level and eventually broke Usain Bolt’s world record just 10 months after giving birth.
During her CBS Mornings appearance, she also discussed receiving a $20 million grant from the Melissa French Gates Foundation to support Black maternal health, a cause she passionately advocates for.
