Allyson Felix Targets Sixth Olympic Start at Age 40

Felix, holding the record for most Olympic medals by a woman with 11, plans a comeback for the Los Angeles event. “So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing,” Felix said, highlighting the pressure to pursue conventional paths at her age.

If she qualifies, the 40-year-old would compete in her sixth Olympic Games, a milestone for any elite athlete. The seven-time gold medalist, who retired with 11 medals after Tokyo, previously cited a home-Games regret that this attempt would address.

As a member of the LA28 Organizing Committee Athletes’ Commission, Felix frames the effort as a personal challenge against conventional career timelines. She would join a small group of athletes who have competed into their 40s, navigating a highly competitive qualification system to secure a spot. What to watch next is whether she completes the qualifying process and reaches the starting line.