US Olympic legend Allyson Felix had to go through a lot of struggles to reach the feat of being one of the most decorated athletes. And one of her daring decisions included calling quits with sponsor Nike.

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In 2019, Nike made a huge decision of cutting her pay by 70% citing her pregnancy. Allyson has been competing in Olympics since 2004 and was aware of her self-worth and what she can achieve in the future as well. Felix eventually broke her relationship with the high-end brand.

Allyson Felix had to fight self-doubts

After separation from Nike, Felix faced a lot of self-doubt. Even a normal human being feels insecure with a normal comment by a random person. Sadly, Felix went through a tough time during her pregnancy, and when they should have been a supporter, Nike doubted her.

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Allyson worked hard to get over her self-doubts. In a recent interview, she disclosed that the moment after her calling quits with Nike was one of the lowest moments of her life.

Allyson said, “I think I felt the most challenged right after going through those negotiations with Nike, actually. Because, you know, being an older athlete and being a mother feeling that I wasn’t believed in and like I couldn’t get back. It was a really low moment for me, and I think as an athlete, just even as people who tie my self-worth to something else.”

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Reuters

“Either a performance or, in this case, to the way Nike valued me or didn’t value me. I had to really work on that, and to find you know, to know that my work isn’t related to that, so that was probably the hardest,” she further added.

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Felix proved she was unstoppable with her own shoe brand

When the top athletes were being sponsored by technologically advanced shoes by Nike and Puma, Felix fought independently. In 2020, Felix created her own shoe brand from scratch. She named the brand ‘Saysh’; she wore her own designed spikes in Tokyo Olympics.

The quality of the shoes has passed all tests, as Allyson clinched two Olympic medals in her own brand shoes. After Olympics, now the shoes are available for her fans online.

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Read More: US Olympic Star Allyson Felix Teases Opening of First ?Saysh? Store

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Shreya Verma

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Shreya Verma is a US Sports Content Strategist at EssentiallySports, with a focus on Olympic sports and athlete storytelling, covering beats like tennis, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, wrestling, and more. A qualified National Level air pistol shooter, she brings the unique perspective of both an athlete and a journalist to her work. Over the past four years at EssentiallySports, she has covered some of the biggest sporting stages, from managing the Olympic Sports desk during the Winter Olympics 2022 to spearheading the US Open 2025 coverage and content strategy. In 2024, she was on the ground in Paris for the Summer Olympics, where she interviewed legends and rising stars, including Carl Lewis, Laurie Hernandez, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Quincy Hall, and Grant Holloway, who memorably offered her the chance to try on his gold medal. She also connected with icons and fan favorites such as Tom Brady, Katie Ledecky, Tara Davis & Hunter Woodhall, Andy Murray, Ilona Maher, Kevon Williams, Jonathan Owens, and Neeraj Chopra, while capturing emotional family perspectives from Nellie Biles, Jordan Chiles’ mother, Suni Lee’s mother, and Katie Ledecky’s brother, Michael. Her journalism is marked by authenticity, access, and a deep passion for highlighting perseverance and human connection in sports. Inspired by Olympic champions like Allyson Felix and Vincent Hancock, Shreya continues to carve her path as a storyteller.

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