An Olympic Champion's Mindset for Overcoming Fear | Allyson Felix | TED

Summary

In this powerful speech, a six-time Olympic champion and world record holder shares her fear of becoming pregnant during her athletic career, fearing it would end her sponsorships and career. She challenges the 'kiss of death' stigma around pregnancy in sports and calls out the double standards of companies like Nike, who initially refused to offer maternity protections. After publicly confronting these issues, she successfully influenced Nike to change their policy and became an advocate for better support for mothers in sports. Her journey includes founding her own women's footwear brand, Saysh, and fighting for childcare policies in the Olympics, inspiring others to stand up for change.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♀️ The speaker, a professional athlete, hid her pregnancy due to fear of losing sponsorships and career opportunities.
• 🤰 Pregnancy in sports like track and field is often seen as detrimental, with the speaker witnessing teammates hide their pregnancies.
• 🏅 Despite being a decorated athlete, the speaker faced a significant pay cut and lack of maternity support from her sponsor, Nike.
• 💼 The speaker argues that companies promote empowerment for women but fail to support them during motherhood, highlighting a 'rigged deal'.
• 🤝 After advocating for change, Nike eventually improved its maternity policy, offering 18 months of protection for female athletes.
• 📰 The speaker's public stance against Nike's policies led to broader industry changes, with other sponsors following suit to support mothers.
• 👟 Post-Nike, the speaker joined Athleta, a female-led brand, and later founded her own women's footwear brand, Saysh, emphasizing self-belief and empowerment.
• 👶 She raised funds for childcare at races, highlighting the need for support systems that acknowledge the reality of motherhood in professional sports.
• 🏆 The speaker returned to the Olympics postpartum, winning medals and becoming the most decorated American track and field athlete, setting an example for others.
• 🌟 The narrative calls for a societal shift towards valuing and accommodating parenthood in professional environments, not just in sports but across all fields.

Q & A

What was the speaker's fear that led her to train at 4am in the dark?

The speaker feared that if her pregnancy was discovered, her sponsors might withdraw their support, forcing her to choose between motherhood and her athletic career.

Why is getting pregnant considered the 'kiss of death' in track and field according to the speaker?

The 'kiss of death' refers to the fear and reality that pregnant athletes may face career-ending consequences, including loss of sponsorships and opportunities, due to societal and industry pressures.

What was the speaker's experience with Nike's maternity policy before she became pregnant?

Before her pregnancy, the speaker was already in a difficult renegotiation period with Nike, where they offered her 70 percent less pay than before, even without knowing about her pregnancy.

What specific request did the speaker make to Nike regarding her maternity contract?

The speaker asked for a clause in her contract that specified Nike wouldn't reduce her pay within 12 months of giving birth.

How did the speaker respond to Nike's initial refusal to extend maternity protection to all female athletes?

The speaker wrote an op-ed in 'The New York Times' criticizing Nike's maternity policy, which led to changes in Nike's policy and other sponsors following suit.

What change did Nike implement in their maternity policy as a result of the speaker's actions?

Nike extended their maternity protection to eighteen months for female athletes.

Why did the speaker decide to leave Nike and find a new sponsor?

The speaker left Nike because they were not ready to offer the same maternity protection to all female athletes and because of the contradictions between Nike's public image and the terms of her contract.

What did the speaker achieve at the Olympics two years after giving birth?

The speaker won a gold and a bronze medal at the Olympics, becoming the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time.

What brand of footwear did the speaker wear during her Olympic victory, and why was it significant?

The speaker wore Saysh, a women's footwear brand she founded, which was significant because it represented her taking control of her own narrative and value as an athlete and mother.

What is the speaker's call to action for creating a new normal in professional and personal life?

The speaker calls for an end to forcing people to choose between parenting and their professional passions, and for creating an environment that supports all aspects of life with generosity, humanity, and truth.

How does the speaker describe the role of fear in creating change?

The speaker describes fear as an invitation to create change, suggesting that acknowledging and facing fear is the first step towards making a difference, both for oneself and others.