Olympic Gold Medalist Allyson Felix on Rio, Beyoncé, and Ben & Jerry's
With fewer than 100 days to the start of the 2016 Olympics, there's one U.S. athlete you should definitely be watching: Allyson Felix. The 30-year-old sprinter already has four gold medals, but faces a new challenge this time around. Last January, Allyson and her team worked with the USA Track & Field organization to change the schedule of races so that she may compete in both the 200- and 400-meter individual races. If she wins gold for both (she's already the reigning 200 meter champion), she would be the first woman to accomplish it since France's Marie-Jose Perec back in 1996.
The Bounty athlete let us in on one thing that's kept her grounded throughout her stellar career: family. It only makes sense she's paying tribute by participating in P&G's "Thank You Mom" campaign (you know, those feelsy commercials that make you all teary-eyed by the end of them). "[My Mom] is kind of that constant, no matter what it is. If it's at a high point, seeing her after a race in the victory lap, or if it's the lowest moment when training is not going well or whatever that is, she's there," she says. "She's there through thick and thin and the moments that aren't so glorious and that everyone doesn't see with that support." We chatted more with Allyson about her Olympics prep, favorite Beyoncé track, and what she does with all those medals she's racked up, ahead.
On how much Olympians really eat:
Reports of Olympians eating upwards of 5,000 calories always come as a shock, and Allyson does say there's some truth to it. "I used to count my calories and I think I was somewhere around 3000 or 3500," she says, "We definitely can eat, and I know for myself I love food, so it's never hard to give in." It's NBD when you're training up to five hours a day, five to six days a week like she is currently. As for her favorite "cheat" food? "Ben & Jerry's oatmeal cookie chunk ice cream. For me, that's always a great splurge," she says.
On how things are different since the 2012 London Olympics:
"For me, I think, it's just I have a lot of experience now. I'm kind of branching out, going out of my comfort zone, going to different [Track & Field] events. I feel like I'm at a place where I really want to go for it and take risks and do things that way."
On feeling pressure:
"I feel like I have high expectations of myself and I just love to push myself," she says, "I think it's awesome to go for [the 200 and 400], and it could all work out, it could be great, or it may not work out, but for me it's all about seeing if I can do it. I'm a person who likes to test my own limits, so it's a really cool challenge just on my own."
On where she keeps her four (!) gold medals:
"Actually, my mom and dad keep them at their house. They love to show them off when people come over and they're there for safekeeping. It's never been my thing to display things like that, so I think [my parents] have more fun with them than I do."
On her running playlist:
"I have anything that's really upbeat, fun. My go-to song before competitions is Beyonce's 'Diva.' I change into my alter ego. I'm this really laid-back person away from the track, and it helps me get to that other place where I need to be aggressive."
On what goes through her mind at the starting line:
"I'm completely focused. I'm complete zoned in. I really can't hear anything going on in the stadium or really even anyone else around me. I'm just completely zoned into what I need to do at that exact moment."
On her advice to aspiring Olympians:
"Be patient. I think as an athlete, it's our natural instinct to want things right away. I wish I could tell myself to think of it as a whole process. You want to work hard, you want to see the results immediately, but it's going to be a journey. Be patient, and enjoy the journey."
