Allyson Felix
Is Fast by Jeremy V. Jones
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briomag.com âœş august 2008
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But that’s not all you need to know about the fastest American female sprinter in years. Hers is a story of faith, family and, of course, Olympic medals.
“Running is definitely a gift from God, and I feel like this is what He’s called me to do,” Allyson says. “If I can have success and be on this stage, then I’m definitely going to use my gift to glorify Him. Whatever I can do to bring someone to Him, whether it’s through my actions or if I’m able to say something to affect someone, I realize that’s what He’s given me this gift for.”
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Gifted Allyson didn’t run track until her freshman year of high school. As a young girl she played basketball and tried keeping up with her brother, Wes, who is two years older and an Olympic-aspiring sprinter. “I never felt fast, because he always beat me by a lot,” Allyson says. “After my first [track] season I made it to the state meet, and that’s when I realized I had potential. I decided not to play basketball and sacrifice a little more so I could be better at track and in the weight room.” Throughout high school Allyson’s teammates called her Chicken Legs. It was all in fun, but she never did like the nickname. “It was even more motivating for me to train harder in the weight room,” she says. When asked how teen girls can handle teasing about any particular physical feature, Allyson says, “My advice is to not let it get you down, but embrace it whatever it is. Yeah, my legs are skinny, but I still worked hard and was able to use them to my advantage.” Part of her positive attitude comes from
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t was the boys who had to learn the hard way. Credit it to the competitive male nature or chalk it up to curiosity, as she graciously says, but the guys had to see for themselves that Allyson Felix was fast—real fast, faster than they were. So at Los Angeles Baptist High School, it wasn’t uncommon for shy, thin Allyson and a male challenger to take things outside, line up in the parking lot and race. “I won a lot,” Allyson says. “But I think there were a few guys who could beat me.” Surely the doubters were gone by her senior year when Allyson dominated the 200 meters at the 2003 Banamex Grand Prix in Mexico City. Posting 22.11 seconds, Allyson broke the world junior record. (It is unofficial, because there was no drug testing at the event by which to ratify a record.) The rest of the world believed after the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. There 18-year-old Allyson’s legs carried her to a silver medal in the 200 while her bright smile captured the American public. This August Allyson will return to the Olympic stage as a favorite in Beijing. She won gold in the past two World Track and Field Championships (2007, 2005), dominating the 200-meter field last summer in 21.81 seconds, a personal record for Allyson and the fastest time by an American woman in eight years. Her spot as the world’s dominant female sprinter has been established, yet there are even more important matters for Allyson.
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tor for Breakaway. He enjoys running but wouldn’t stand a chance against Allyson.
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We asked Allyson if she does everything fast. You know, clean house fast? “No.” Grocery shop fast? “No.” Anything fast? “Nothing comes to mind.” Um, drive fast? “Yeah, maybe that. Sometimes.” But we got to thinking: Allyson’s personal record in the 200 meters is 21.81 seconds. At that rate, how would she stack up head to head against some other notably fast things? Allyson vs. World Champion Man: Tyson Gay (U.S.A.) won the 200 at the world championships in 19.76 seconds. Allyson’s time was 21.81. But the lastplace finisher in every first round heat was slower than Allyson. Victory: We’ll call it a tie. Allyson vs. Beast: The cheetah, fastest land animal, can sustain 70 mph for more than 400 meters. Allyson’s best 200-meter speed is 20.5 mph. Victory: Cheetah. Allyson vs. Machine: Your family’s minivan will do 100 mph or more. Victory: Mom’s minivan Allyson vs. Humanity: The top speed of an average, in-shape human male is 15 to 18 mph. Victory: Allyson.
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Jeremy V. Jones is senior associate edi-
How Fast is Fast?
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Veteran’s-Eye View Since graduating in January with a degree in elementary education from the University of Southern California, Allyson has been training six days a week, five or six hours a day. Her specialty has always been the 200, but at the U.S. Olympic Trials she qualified to represent her country in the 100 and 400 as well. She’ll head to Beijing in August as a veteran with a slightly different outlook. In Athens she savored the entire experience, including walking in all the ceremonies and living in the Olympic village. This time she’ll save the ceremonies for after her events. “I just want to get there and compete,” she says. “I’m going to save everything for my performance on the track.” She also views the games from a different spiritual standpoint. “In my first Olympics the big thing I was learning was: Even though you’re young, don’t let that get in the way of what God has for you. You can still be an example,” Allyson says. “For Beijing I’m not that much older, but I’m looking forward to taking more of a stand and a leadership role on the team. Being more vocal and offering [more spiritual leadership].” That’s not necessarily the easiest task for Allyson, who admits to being somewhat
shy. The difference has been learning to be faithful with the gifts and opportunities God has given her. “As time has gone on, I feel that this is what God has for me,” she says. “And if this is what He has for me, then I can’t get away from it. So I try to embrace it and do the best that I can with what He’s blessed me with.” She has lofty but attainable goals. Between the 100, 200 and two relays, Allyson could leave China wearing four medals. And at 22, she knows she has time for plenty more accomplishments on the track and beyond. “I still want to win gold medals in the Olympics, and I still want to make an attempt at the world record [21.34 seconds]; I think that’s going to take a while,” Allyson says. “I’m just going to play it out year by year, but I have a passion for children, and one day I’d like to get in the classroom and teach—when I’m done running.” m
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the support of her family, with whom she’s always been close. In fact, Allyson and her mother have been doing Bible studies together since Allyson was in high school. “She disciples me,” Allyson says. “I think I went through a little phase when it wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but now that I’m older, I understand what a privilege it is to learn from someone like her. I was always taught that you learn from the older women and their wisdom. I don’t think I could have a greater role model for a mother, and I aspire to be like her.”