Last week, we shared the leadership role Pierre de Coubertin had in bringing the first edition of the modern Olympic Games to life, as well as his negative role in excluding women from the Games and professional sports. During the history of the Games, many inspiring women and allies have been fighting for gender equity in sports.

Allyson Felix is one of them. This American hero is simply the most decorated track and field athlete in the history of the Olympic Games. She won 11 medals – 7 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. If reaching those heights was not enough of a leadership accomplishment, she has also helped to push important social issues forward.

In 2019, she wrote an op-ed for the New York Times exposing that her sponsor, Nike, was not guaranteeing salary protection for female athletes during the first months after pregnancy. The article strengthened previous claims from other athletes and led to a change in Nike’s maternal policy. She was also an open advocate against the inequitable maternity care of black women in the United States, which was triggered by the challenging experience of the premature birth of her daughter due to pre-eclampsia.

If Pierre de Coubertin helped to actualise the ancient version of the Games, women like Allyson Felix are helping to actualise its modern culture, so we can truly celebrate athletes going faster, higher, stronger – together.

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