Felix, who is the most decorated athlete in Olympic track and field history with 11 medals, plans to return to the Olympics at the age of 40.
Published April 28, 2026
Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in history, plans to come out of retirement to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“A lot of us have been told not to do big, bold things,” Felix told Time magazine in an interview published Monday.
“At this age, I should probably stay home and take care of the kids and do all of those things. And why not? Let’s flip it. Let’s go after things. Let’s be vulnerable.”
The 40-year-old seven-time Olympic gold medalist from Los Angeles will be competing in his sixth Olympics if he qualifies for LA28.
Felix, who won 11 Olympic medals and retired after the Tokyo Olympics, said one of the few regrets of her career was not having the opportunity to compete in home games.
Before retiring in 2022, she became an outspoken advocate for athletes who want to become mothers and continue their careers.
“When I was competing, I just heard this battle cry against the host nation’s athletes at the Olympics,” Felix told TIME. “I would love to experience that.”
Felix, a member of the LA28 Organizing Committee Athletes Committee, said he regrets not making a comeback attempt.
“I would probably be mad at myself if I didn’t try it,” she said. “At the end of the day, I’m still going to be there with the kids, cheering everyone on and playing.”
Felix, a mother of two, is a leading advocate for women in sports. She parted ways with longtime sponsor Nike after a contract dispute following the birth of her first child, and subsequently co-founded women’s shoe and apparel company Saish.
She told Time magazine that she draws inspiration from athletes who continue to compete into their 40s, including Tom Brady, LeBron James and Lindsey Vonn.
Felix’s participation in the Los Angeles Games is not guaranteed. First, she must navigate the highly competitive U.S. track and field qualification system.
