U.S athlete Allyson Felix - who has scooped a total of seven gold medals at the Olympic Games - has announced that she will retire from the sport at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old holds the honour of being the most decorated female track and field Olympian of all time, having claimed a total of 12 medals at the Games since her first silver in the 200m in 2004.
Felix's final Olympic appearance in Tokyo 2020 saw her claim bronze in the 200m and win her seventh Olympic title in the 4x400m relay, and the Los Angeles-born athlete has now issued a heartfelt goodbye to the sport.
"As a little girl they called chicken legs - never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I'd have a career like this," Felix said on Instagram.
"I have so much gratitude for this sport that has changed my life. I have given everything I have to running and for the first time I'm not sure if I have anything left to give.
"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. This season isn't about the time on the clock, it's simply about joy. If you see me on the track this year I hope to share a moment, a memory and my appreciation with you.
"This season I'm running for women. I'm running for a better future for my daughter. I'm running for you," she added in her retirement statement. More to come on that, so stay tuned, but I'll be sharing a series of announcements that I'm hoping will make the world better for women. Here's to my final season."
Felix collected three of her seven Olympic gold medals at the London 2012 Games and has also taken home a whopping 18 medals from World Championships - 13 of them gold.
Away from the arena, Felix made headlines in 2019 when Nike planned to cut her sponsorship pay by 70% after she became a mother, which ultimately led the sportswear company to change their maternity policy following public outcry. body check tags ::
