Allyson Felix Returns at 42 for 2028 LA Olympics

The most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history is lacing up her spikes one more time. Allyson Felix, who retired in 2021 with 11 Olympic medals, announced plans to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in her hometown when she'll be 42 years old.

If successful, Felix would become the first American sprinter ever to make the Games in their 40s. She already holds seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze from five previous Olympic appearances.

The comeback wasn't something Felix planned when she walked away from the sport three years ago after winning bronze in the 4x100-meter relay in Tokyo. But attending the 2024 Paris Olympics with her family stirred something she couldn't ignore.

"There were moments where I was like, 'Oh, this is so great. It's so exciting to be in the stands,'" Felix told Time magazine. "And then there were moments where I was, 'You know, I miss this feeling.'"

Felix drew inspiration from athletes like Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Lindsey Vonn who've dominated their sports past 40. She began asking herself a powerful question: why not?

"So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing," she said. "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."

Why This Inspires

Felix's decision challenges every assumption about what's possible for athletes and mothers. She's planning to balance her training schedule around time with her daughter Camryn, 7, and son Trey, 2, carefully choosing which races to run.

Starting in October, she'll begin full training with her sights set on returning to high-level competition in 2027. The road won't be easy, as the U.S. has one of the deepest pools of talented sprinters in the world.

But Felix isn't chasing another medal. Her ultimate goal is simpler and somehow more meaningful: walking in the opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, and hearing the roar of her hometown crowd.

"When I was competing, you just heard this roar for host-country athletes at the Olympics," Felix said. "I would love to experience that."

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is give yourself permission to try.