Super-athlete Allyson Felix says now is a 'pivotal' moment for equality in women's sport
Athletics golden girl Allyson Felix has said that now is a 'pivotal time' for equality in women's sport.
The 33-year-old has been fighting for female athletes to retain sponsorship money while they are pregnant.
On the eve of competing at the World Championships in Doha, she said it is crucial that women from across all sports come together in the fight for equality.
“It's the power of the collective," Felix told AP. "Alysia [Montano] speaking, Kara [Goucher] speaking, the women’s soccer team. It’s just such a pivotal time right now in women’s sports, and we’re seeing change happen.”
The athlete broke ties with Nike after they said they would not pay her while she was pregnant and not competing.
Alysia Montano, who amazingly ran while eight months pregnant, said that the sponsor also stopped paying her while she was pregnant.
Felix continued: “You feel like it's a really important time and it's important to speak out.
"I want to make it so that the next person coming up doesn't feel like they have to choose between career and family and are protected to make those decisions freely.
"We're not quite there yet. It feels like there's always something to tackle or something new. Or something old, that should have been changed quite a long time ago.
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"It does feel like we're making progress. But there's still work to be done.
"When I see the soccer team out there, you just feel support and you feel like you're not alone in this."
The World Cup-winning USA football team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in the pursuit of equal pay.