Allyson Felix, the most decorated U.S. Olympian in track and field, confirmed Wednesday that she will retire after the 2022 season.
Felix, who has won 11 Olympic medals, previously had announced that last summer’s Tokyo Games would be her final Olympics.
She took bronze in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m at the Games. The gold in the relay marked her 11th medal, which pushed her ahead of Carl Lewis as the most decorated U.S. Olympic track athlete.
After the Olympics, the 36-year-old left the door open for the 2022 season, especially because the world outdoor championships will take place in the U.S. for the first time. The competition is being held in Eugene, Oregon, in June.
“I have given everything I have to running and for the first time I’m not sure if I have anything left to give,” Felix wrote in an Instagram post announcing her retirement. “I want to say goodbye and thank you to the sport and people who have helped shape me the only way I know how—with one last run.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix)
A post shared by Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix)
She announced last month that she will compete in the 300m at the Penn Relays in April. In order to qualify for the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, Felix must compete at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in June, and the Penn Relays will help lay the groundwork for those meets.
Felix already has the most world titles of any track athlete after breaking her tie with Usain Bolt at the world championships in 2019. She is a 13-time gold medalist and an 18-time medalist at the world championships.
“This season isn’t about the time on the clock, it’s simply about joy,” Felix wrote. “If you see me on the track this year I hope to share a moment, a memory and my appreciation with you.”
She talked about her illustrious career with Kelley O’Hara last year on the Just Women’s Sports Podcast, which has been renamed “The Players’ Pod” for the new season.