Former USC track star Allyson Felix makes announcement regarding future

Allyson Felix is hanging up her spikes. The former USC track star announced this is her final year of professional competition.

Felix, 36, shared the news of her pending retirement on Instagram, meaning her decorated career is coming to a close. A 10-time national champion, she competed in five Olympics and won seven gold medals, including an individual medal in the 2012 200-meter dash. In the most recent Olympics in Tokyo, she helped the U.S. to a gold medal in the 4×400-meter relay.

But now, she’s getting ready to call it a career. She penned a lengthy statement in her post explaining why the time is right.

Allyson Felix just confirmed via Instagram that this will be her final season.

"This season I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you." @OnHerTurf | @allysonfelix pic.twitter.com/wF7PwCCedJ

— Alex Azzi (@AlexAzziNBC) April 13, 2022

“As a little girl they called chicken legs, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I’d have a career like this,” Felix wrote. “I have so much gratitude for this sport that has changed my life. I have given everything I have to running and for the first time I’m not sure I have anything left to give.

“I want to say goodbye and thank you to the sport and people who have helped shape me the only way I know how — with one last run. This season isn’t about the time on the clock, it’s simply about joy. If you see me on the track this year I hope to share a moment, a memory and my appreciation for you.”

Felix added she’s not running this final year for her. She’s doing it for others, notably the women who came before her and her daughter.

“This season I’m running for women,” Felix wrote. “I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you. More to come on that, so stay tuned, but I’ll be sharing a series of announcements that I’m hoping will make the world better for women. Here’s to my final season.”