DOHA, QATAR: Sprinter Allyson Felix of the United States won her 12th gold medal in the 4×400 Metres Mixed Relay during day three of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships on Sunday to surpass Usain Bolt for the most all-time. It was also her first gold medal as a mother.
Her daughter Camryn was born last November, and Felix’s return to the track after an emergency C-section and preeclampsia made for an emotional journey toward this gold medal.
The quartet finished their race at 3:09.34, setting a world record for the new event.
Just ten months ago, Felix prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, after enduring a difficult pregnancy where she suffered from severe preeclampsia.
“So special, to have my daughter here watching means the world to me,” Felix told. “It’s been a crazy year for me.”
Bolt still leads the charts for most career gold medals in the World Championships. Allyson Felix broke Usain Bolt’s record of winning the most medals in IAAF World Championships. Felix is only one behind Bolt for number of gold medals won in the competition. Over half of Felix’s medals have come in 4x100m and 4x400m relays. She could also have equalled the record for most Golds had she won the 400m finals. Compatriot Phyllis Francis won that race and she had to settle for a Bronze.
