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Allyson Felix on why her views on athlete protest have evolved

Olympic track star Allyson Felix reveals how her position on athlete protest has evolved over time, and how the birth of her daughter impacted her personal fight for equality.

Video Transcript

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ALLYSON FELIX: I think, you know, the Olympics has this really unique opportunity to bring people together. and really just wanting to focus on that. And then, I think, with the USOPC what they're doing and what, you know, individual athletes will be able to do at their trials, I think, that it's-- it's amazing, you know, to be able to speak out on, you know, on these issues that are really important to all the different communities.

I mean, I think you look at that moment and you see how we celebrate it today but then you know the reality of how difficult life was for them and that it was anything but celebrated at that time and all the consequences. And we're standing on their shoulders, you know? And they've done so much and that we have to keep fighting, and that we have to keep using our voice and our platform. And even though you know we've come a ways from that moment there's still a lot of work to be done.

For the longest I felt like I just I had to be so focused on, you know, competing and winning medals and all of these things. And then I don't know, I think, becoming a mother really helped me find my voice and really just wanting to speak on my experiences and understanding that, you know, my community is suffering. I have a daughter who I don't want to experience these same fights, and it's just it's time, you know? And so it's not always comfortable, but I think it is necessary.