Allyson Felix visits Rio de Janeiro and gets inspired for 2016 Olympic Games
US sprinter, who matched Usain Bolt’s haul of three gold medals at London 2012, is back on top form after difficult comeback season
Allyson Felix took part in an event with athletes with an impairment while in Rio (Getty Images/Alexandre Loureiro)
Allyson Felix knows all about being patient in pursuit of glory. The US sprinter had to settle for silver in the women’s 200m at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, both times finishing behind Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell. Then, at London 2012, it was her turn. Felix finally took the gold – one of three that left her tied with Usain Bolt as the most successful track athletes at the Games – leaving Campbell in her wake, in fourth place.
Such patience has been required again this year. Felix, 28, has endured a difficult comeback from a torn hamstring at the 2013 world championships, when she was hoping to add to her eight world titles. But after several unhappy returns, she is back on top form, having run the fastest 200m time of the year, in September in Brussels. Now she is able to look forward to the future – and the Rio 2016 Games.
“This year has been really different for me,” Felix told rio2016.com during a visit to the city last week. “It has taken a lot of patience and I’ve had to focus on each stage of my recovery at a time, without rushing anything. So it’s good to be 100 per cent fit now and ready to start 2015 full of energy.”
Felix, who also won gold at London 2012 in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays – helping break the world record in the former – was in Rio for the first time on the invitation of the US consulate. She took part in a series of activities with young people and left the city excited about returning for the first Olympic Games in South America.
“The Rio Games will be special,” she said. “It’s good to visit before the Games, to feel the city’s energy and experience the incredible atmosphere here. It would be great to win another gold medal here, but it’s too soon to know what might happen. I’m guided by my objectives and always try to push my limits.”
Felix shows off the three gold medals she won at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Photo: Getty Images/Kevin C Cox)
As for matching Bolt’s medal tally at London 2012, Felix is just happy to be bracketed with the Jamaican. “Bolt is the greatest athlete of all time, so the comparison just makes me happy,” she said. “It’s good to know that people think you have something in common with an athlete who has achieved so many special triumphs in his career.”
Rio 2016 will be Felix’s fourth and perhaps final Olympic Games and she is a good bet to add to her medal haul of four golds and two silvers. “I have a lot more experience than I had at my first Olympics in 2004,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about running and about competitions over this time.”
From next year Felix will be able to register a qualify time for Rio 2016, although her place at the Games will only be confirmed after the USA trials a few months before the big event.
