Felix Thinks of Women’s Rights, Future as She Runs Last US Race

Allyson Felix acknowledges the crowd after she competed in the Women 400 Meter Dash Final during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field on June 25, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Getty Images)
Allyson Felix acknowledges the crowd after she competed in the Women 400 Meter Dash Final during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field on June 25, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Getty Images)
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Felix Thinks of Women’s Rights, Future as She Runs Last US Race

Allyson Felix acknowledges the crowd after she competed in the Women 400 Meter Dash Final during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field on June 25, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Getty Images)
Allyson Felix acknowledges the crowd after she competed in the Women 400 Meter Dash Final during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field on June 25, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Getty Images)

There was a bit of sadness as legendary sprinter Allyson Felix stepped off the track on Saturday after her final US championships.

"But I think more than anything this season showed me that I have no doubts about walking away," said America's most decorated track and field athlete who is nearing the end of 19 amazing seasons.

"There is nothing left that I have to do," Felix, 36, said. "For the first time in me, I didn't feel I had that fight in me, and that's who I am. And when I felt that I knew there was nothing left to do but be grateful and watch all these amazing athletes."

The concluding US championship race came in the women's 400 meters final with Felix taking sixth in 51.34 seconds.

"I think I could be in good position for a maybe mixed relay, the Californian said of the upcoming world championships at the same Oregon track in July.

The US team will likely be named in early July, with Felix in line for her 10th world championship team to go with five Olympics.

Yet the weekend had bittersweet moments for the winner of 11 Olympic medals and 18 world championship honors.

The US Supreme Court overturned the legal decision Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed American women the constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday morning before Felix ran in the women's 400m semifinals.

"I think any time women's rights get taken away, it's a sad day," Felix said on Saturday.

A fierce advocate for the rights of women since the birth of her daughter in 2018, Felix said "I will always fight for women and always will stand on that decision. It was very unfortunate."

A final street race in Los Angeles in early August will close out her running career.

Then Felix, who has begun her own apparel and shoe company, will turn her attention to raising her daughter and spending more time advocating for causes she is passionate about.

"To step right into that means so much to me," Felix said.



Barca’s Flick Tells Players to Avoid Arguing with Referees 

 FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference after a training session of the team in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain, 16 February 2025. (EPA)
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference after a training session of the team in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain, 16 February 2025. (EPA)
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Barca’s Flick Tells Players to Avoid Arguing with Referees 

 FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference after a training session of the team in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain, 16 February 2025. (EPA)
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick attends a press conference after a training session of the team in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain, 16 February 2025. (EPA)

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick called on his players to refrain from "disrespectful" behavior toward match officials after Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham was shown a straight red card for arguing with the referee in their 1-1 draw at Osasuna.

Bellingham said after Saturday's game he had not insulted the referee and described the situation as a misunderstanding. On Sunday he apologized on social media for "leaving my teammates in such a tough position".

Flick, speaking ahead of Barcelona's home game against Rayo Vallecano on Monday, said he had reminded his squad of the importance of avoiding confrontations with match officials.

"It's disrespect. For me, it's like that. But I don't have to decide (the punishments)," he told a press conference on Sunday.

"I don't like this behavior and I said this today to my players because it's very important. It is not good for the team when you do this and get the red card. It's a weakness and we don't like that.

"We have one person on the pitch who is allowed to discuss with the referee and that is the captain. We have to accept that."

Third-placed Barca can return to the top of LaLiga with a win over Rayo later on Monday.