Allyson Felix, the most decorated US female track Olympian, is setting her sights on a return to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Felix, 40, announced her comeback bid in an interview with Time, aiming to compete in her home city.
"So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing," Felix stated about her decision. "You know, at this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids, doing all that. And just, why not? Let’s flip it on its head. Let’s go after the thing. Let’s be vulnerable."
If Felix makes the team at 42, she would become the first American sprinter to compete in their 40s. The 11-time Olympic medalist has cited athletes like Tom Brady and LeBron James as inspirations for pushing athletic boundaries past traditional age limits.
Felix won her last Olympic medal, a bronze in the 4x400 meter mixed relay, at the 2022 World Championships. Following her retirement, she has remained involved in sports administration, including roles on the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors.
Felix plans to begin serious training for her comeback in October. Should she not make the team, she intends to attend the 2028 LA Games with her children to support the US team.