Worklife with Adam Grant

Allyson Felix on defeating disappointment and savoring success

Oct 19, 2021

Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in American history, shares her inspiring journey of resilience and empowerment. She reflects on her initial disappointment after winning silver at the Olympics and how it fueled her success. The discussion highlights her battles in advocating for maternal protections in sports and the unique challenges women face balancing motherhood with athletic careers. Felix emphasizes the importance of representation and the need for systemic change, celebrating her accomplishments and those of other women in sports.

55:01

Creator website

Episode guests

Allyson Felix

Highlights

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Episode notes

From Neighborhood to Olympics: The Importance of Trying Different Sports

01:20

Overcoming Challenges with a Strong Support System and a Clear Goal

01:21

Intro

2min

The Journey to Athletic Excellence

6min

Journey Through the Olympics: Emotions and Growth

19min

Pregnancy and Professionalism: A Personal Journey

4min

Navigating Motherhood and Career in Sports

4min

Motherhood and Resilience in Sports

5min

The Underdog Journey: Mental Health and Achievement in Sports

15min

Empowering Role Models and Celebrating Success

4min

Empowerment Through Advocacy: Challenging Norms and Healthcare Rights

6min

At the age of 18, Allyson Felix took home the Olympic silver medal in the 200 meter dash. She was devastated. Where others saw “second-best in the world,” she only saw “not first.” That race lit a fire that would carry her on to become the most decorated track and field athlete in American history. Adam talks with her about achieving excellence, bouncing back from her so-called “failures,” and sustaining motivation to medal in five straight Olympic games. Read the text transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4G21

This was an episode of Taken for Granted, but now the podcast is called ReThinking with Adam Grant, and it’s back with weekly episodes. You can listen to them right here in the WorkLife feed, or by following ReThinking with Adam Grant wherever you are right now.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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