Allyson Felix champions Olympic Village nursery for athlete moms

Retired Olympic athlete Allyson Felix has partnered up with P&G to have a nursery in the Olympic Village at Paris 2024. 

The nursery - a first of its kind - will provide a space for athlete moms to ensure their babies are cared for, as well as bond with each other. 

“I just knew how difficult it is to compete at the top level after I had my daughter. And so when I became (part of) the athletes’ commission of the IOC (International Olympics Committee), I really wanted to be the voice for athlete moms,” Felix said in an interview with CBS Mornings. 

Felix has a record 20 world championship medals and 11 Olympic wins - including seven Gold medals. 

“It’s just one less thing for them (athlete moms) to worry about in the pressure of competition,” she added. 

The space is an area where kids can have their playtime, and moms can feed their babies and take a break from all the noise that happens at the Olympics games. 

Built to meet the demands of up to 22,250 athletes and staff, the nursery has been built with support from P&G’s Pampers brand. 

The space will stock up on nappies and wet wipes from the sponsor brand, who will also provide a wide range of essential services including access to period protection products, laundry rooms and dental clinics across the village. 

“Pregnancy and motherhood don’t have to mean a career end for female athletes. I am very grateful for the strong support of P&G from the first day our Commission put forward the suggestion. It is very helpful for both parents and infants to be able to spend time together, especially at such an important moment in an athlete’s sporting life. This nursery allows that to happen, while also giving athletes the opportunity to focus on the Games,” said IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho in this article on the Olympics website. 

Felix, who is now part of the Athletes’ Commission at the IOC, had a complicated pregnancy in 2018. 

After Camryn - her daughter’s - birth, Felix competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, winning 4 x 400m gold and earning an individual bronze in the 400 m, marking her fifth consecutive Olympics with a medal.

“I think (the initiative) tells women you can be mothers and still be at the top of your game,” Felix said. “... we’re seeing so many athlete mom role models for the younger ones to look up to. And I hope we just keep finding better ways to support these women.”