The Fear of Competing in the Dark

Alison Felix, an Olympic track and field athlete, recalls the fear she felt while training while pregnant. She discusses the pressure athletes face to hide their pregnancies and the difficult choices they must make to prioritize their health or their careers. Felix recounts her personal experience with her sponsor, Nike, and the inequality in how they treated pregnant athletes. She ultimately left Nike and became an advocate for change in maternity policies in sports. She encouraged women to stand up for themselves and make change, highlighting the importance of representation and the need to create a supportive environment for working mothers in all fields.