Allyson Felix took a public stand against Nike in 2019 over its treatment of pregnant athletes, to break a long-standing silence in professional sports.
Felix’s bold move sparked a movement, challenged outdated norms, and ignited policy changes that are now reshaping track and field. This week, that transformative impact was once again visible.
Olympian Marisa Howard, a steeplechase specialist and mother of one, became the first athlete to receive a second maternity grant from the USA Track & Field (USATF) Foundation. While the moment might seem quietly procedural, its significance is immense. Female athletes now have the infrastructure to balance motherhood and elite competition, marking a new chapter in sports.
In 2022, during her first pregnancy, Howard received her initial grant and later made a remarkable comeback, securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for Paris 2024. Her performance at the Trials, a stunning 15-second personal best of 9:07.14, placed her fifth on the U.S. all-time steeplechase list. At the Paris Games, she advanced to Round 1, Heat 3, clocking 9:24.78. Beyond results, Howard’s success stems from systems that let women pursue medals while raising families.
For Howard, the financial support wasn’t a bonus, it was vital.
“The Foundation has been such a huge part of my life for the past five years,” she admitted.
“Since my first grant in 2021, they’ve funded my career. I don’t have a shoe sponsor, so every time I get one of these grants, I’m in shock and awe that they’re willing to invest in American athletes like me.”
Her words reaffirm what Felix had long maintained, financial security is not a privilege but a necessity for sustaining an elite athletic career, especially for women navigating motherhood.
Felix’s push led to policy shifts at Nike and inspired institutions like the USATF Foundation to launch dedicated maternity grant programs. These initiatives have now become critical lifelines for female athletes, ensuring that pregnancy isn’t a career-ending detour but a natural part of a full, competitive life.
Looking ahead, Howard plans to resume racing early next year, exploring new events like the 1500m and 5,000m in the absence of a steeplechase World Championships in 2025. Her long-term goal is Los Angeles 2028, a target she approaches with the experience of a mother, athlete, and trailblazer in a space where once, neither identity was welcome.
And Howard’s message to other women in sport is heartfelt:
“There’s so much gratification in doing both things you love at the same time. I didn’t realize how much I would love motherhood until I became a mom. Now that I have a three-year-old saying, ‘Mommy, I love you,’ there’s nothing better than snuggling your little ones and still being able to chase your dreams.”
But this moment doesn’t solely belong to Howard. It belongs to every woman who defied the outdated narrative that motherhood and elite sport couldn’t coexist. It belongs to the institutions finally learning to listen. And it belongs to Allyson Felix, whose courageous refusal to stay silent set this revolution in motion.
