In the final race of her illustrious career, Allyson Felix captured a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships as part of the United States' mixed 4x400 meter relay team.
She was already the most decorated athlete in the history of the championships with 13 gold, three silver and two bronze medals prior to this year's event, and her third-place finish with Team USA increased her career total to 19. The 36-year-old also boasts 11 Olympic medals won over five consecutive appearances at the Games.
In the mixed 4x400 meter relay, the American team — which also included Elija Godwin, Vernon Norwood and Kennedy Simon — finished in 3:10.16. The Dominican Republic took gold and the Netherlands silver, passing the U.S. in the final stretch of the race.
The 2022 championships were the 10th of Felix's career. She made her first appearance on the world stage in 2003 and won her first Olympic medal, a silver in the 200 meters, a year later in Athens. During the Tokyo Games, Felix tied then broke the record for the most medals won by an American track and field athlete when she captured a bronze in the 400 meters and capped off her Olympic career with a gold in the 4x400 meter relay.
Felix announced her plans to retire on Instagram in April and wrote that this season she is "running for women." After giving birth to her daughter in 2018, Felix spoke out against sponsor Nike because the company would not guarantee salary protections for sponsored athletes who took maternity leave. She continues to advocate for increasing support for mothers in the sport, and during the U.S. Track and Field Championships last month she provided free childcare to athletes, coaches and staff.
(Photo: Andrew Nelles / USA Today)