Allyson Felix is a mom and an athlete who’s also the only woman to win six track and field Olympic gold medals, but she knows she wouldn’t be able to do it without support and resources. With that support, she hit the track and just 10 months after giving birth, she broke a record previously held by Usain Bolt and became the most decorated track athlete – male or female – in history. And now, she’s helping other moms competing in the Olympics by launching a $200-thousand grant program to cover childcare costs for mom athletes.
In partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation, Athleta and Felix, The Power of She Fund Child Care Grants will provide $10-thousand to mom athletes who are competing in this summer’s Tokyo Games and in the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. The grants will go to Lora Webster, a gold medal winning sitting volleyball player, hammer thrower Gwen Berry, runner Aliphine Tuliamuk and six other athletes and the money will help cover things like babysitters, summer camps and flights for family members who can serve as caregivers.
“When you’re restricted by your finances, you have to say, ‘These are my options.’ Having support, your options open up,” Felix says. “I think it’s going to translate to better performances. With support you’re a better athlete, a better person, a better mother.”
Source: Glamour