Allyson Felix has reportedly teamed up with P&G’s Pampers® brand to launch a nursery within the Olympic Village. According to a press release, the nursery will provide “access to high quality nappies and wipes, while also providing a space for playtime and family bonding.” The nursery, located in the non-residential area in the Olympic Village Plaza, will provide support for Olympic athletes from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. everyday.
“Pregnancy and motherhood don’t have to mean a career end for female athletes. I am very grateful for the strong support of P&G from the first day our Commission put forward the suggestion,” IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho said.
“It is very helpful for both parents and infants to be able to spend time together, especially at such an important moment in an athlete’s sporting life. This nursery allows that to happen, while also giving athletes the opportunity to focus on the Games.”
Felix is a an 11-time Olympic medalist who knows first hand how difficult it is to chase Olympic gold while still being a full-time parent. Most notably, she, along with Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher, raised issues with Nike after the company failed to provide guarantee salary protections for its pregnant athletes. Eventually, the brand expanded its maternity policy in 2019, but Felix was long gone. Instead, she launched her own footwear company, Saysh, in June 2021. Now, the athlete and entrepreneur is looking to bring her next endeavor to an event she knows very well — the Summer Olympics.
“I just knew how difficult it was to compete at the top level after I had my daughter, and some practical things were really hard. And so when I joined the Athletes Commission of the IOC, I really wanted to be that voice for athlete moms, and just take away one less thing for them to worry about in the pressure of competition,” Felix said about her desire to team up with Pampers.
The Summer Olympics Olympics will begin Saturday, July 26 in Paris, France.
