Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, is planning a return to competition with the goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, when she will be 42. Felix, who retired after the Tokyo Olympics and last competed at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, is targeting a sixth Olympic appearance, a project she calls internally “Plan Six.” The Olympics in her hometown of Los Angeles form the centerpiece of that ambition.
A record-setting career already unparalleled
Felix’s career numbers put her in a category of her own. She won 11 Olympic medals, including 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze, making her the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field. Throughout the World Championships, she won 20 medals, bringing her total to 31 medals at major events around the world. Her Olympic journey began in 2004 when she won a silver medal in the 200 meters. Her first gold medal came in the 4x400m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and she also won a silver medal in the 200m. Over the next decade, she became a central figure in America’s relay dominance, winning six of seven Olympic gold medals in team events and the individual 200m gold at London 2012. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she won a relay gold medal and a bronze medal in the 400-meter relay before retiring from the sport.
Why did Los Angeles bring her back?
Felix made it clear that the location of the 2028 Olympics was a decisive factor in her decision.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime homecoming.“That was the only thing that was enough to hold me back,” she told Time magazine. “I know that at 40, I haven’t reached my peak yet. I have no illusions about that,” she said. “I know exactly what it is and what I want to see. So I hope people see it that way.” The prospect of playing in front of her hometown crowd remains central to her thinking. “When I compete, you only hear the shouts of the athletes from the host country at the Olympics. I’d love to experience that.” She aims to attend the opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, even if qualification itself remains uncertain.
Returns around family and timing
Allison Felix, a member of the LA28 Games Organizing Committee’s Athlete Commission, is approaching her comeback with a different structure than her early career. Now a mother of two, including daughter Camryn, 7, and son Trey, 2, she said she won’t be competing in a full global competition schedule. Instead, she plans to begin a comprehensive training program with longtime coach Bobby Kersee in October, anticipating a return to certified competition in 2027 to meet qualifying requirements for the U.S. Olympic Trials. She gave birth to her second child in 2024 and has been away from elite competition for the past few years, a period that will determine how she approaches a potential return. Looking back on her retirement from the sport, she said, “It was definitely a mixed bag of emotions. There were moments where I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. It’s so exciting to be in the stands and on the other side.'” And then there were moments when I was like, ‘You know, I miss this feeling.’ ‘”
Return without any illusions
Felix has repeatedly emphasized that this attempt is not driven by external expectations or financial incentives. “I don’t think athletics is a place to do it for the money,” she said with a laugh. “I feel very satisfied.” Rather, motivation is closely tied to the idea of trying something, regardless of the outcome. “If I didn’t give it a try, I might feel bad about myself. “No matter what the outcome is, I’m still going to be with my kids, hang out and cheer for everybody.”
Allyson Felix, 40, shocked fans when she came out of retirement to chase her 2028 Olympics dream in Los Angeles (Photo via Getty)
She also acknowledges the reality of regression at this stage of her life and career. “You know, at this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids and doing all this stuff. Just, why not? Let’s turn it upside down. “ “I totally understand people who hold on for too long and you think, ‘What are they doing?’ I know that at 40, I haven’t hit my peak yet. I have no illusions about it. I know exactly what it is and what I want to see. So I hope people see it that way.”
what will happen in the future
Felix’s plan doesn’t guarantee a return to the Olympic stage, given the depth of USA Track and Field’s program and the demands of qualifying. Currently, the focus is on a gradual return to training, with a return to training expected at the end of 2026, followed by a resumption of competition in 2027, which if progress goes well, will lead to the 2028 Olympic trials.If successful, it would mark the 24-year gap between her first Olympic medal in 2004 and her possible appearance in Los Angeles.Whether she joins the team or not, Felix describes the endeavor in simple terms because she doesn’t want to leave opportunities unexplored.
