Olympic legend Allyson Felix explains why she wanted 'one final year' to 'soak it all up' before she retires

• Legendary sprinter Allyson Felix announced that she's set to retire at the end of the 2022 season.
• America's most decorated track Olympian told Insider she "really felt like it was time."

Allyson Felix has already achieved virtually everything there is to achieve as a sprinter.

With 11 Olympic medals to her name, the 36-year-old is the America's most decorated track and field Olympian. Her 18 World Championship medals are the most of any athlete — man or woman — in the history of the sport.

And even though her two medals from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics proved beyond a doubt that she can still keep up with the best runners on the planet, Felix decided the 2022 season would be her last.

"I just really felt like it was time," Felix told Insider. "I've been doing it [for a while]; this is my 19th year as a professional."

These last Olympics meant a little something extra to Felix, who had represented the United States at four games before heading to Tokyo. But this time around, she was competing as a mother for the first time in her Olympic career.

Felix gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, on November 28, 2018 after a life-threatening condition forced her to have an emergency C-section nearly two months before her due date. At the time, she wasn't sure what the future would hold for her on the track — her days running at a professional level very well could have been behind her.

Instead, less than three years later, Felix was on site in Japan to cap an incredible postpartum comeback at her fifth Olympic Games. With a gold and bronze medal in tow upon returning to the States, Felix reinforced to the world — and herself — that greatness in athletics doesn't have to end with the start of motherhood.

"Making it to the last Olympics was a highlight for me," Felix said. "Being able to overcome all the adversity and just to get to that point."

She could've called it a career right then and there. Instead, Felix opted to "take one final year to just soak it all up and to enjoy myself and to have fun."

Instead of staying "dialed in or focused on one specific event" as she has in seasons past, she was intent on keeping the bigger picture at the forefront and "really appreciating" the small stuff as it happens. Another bonus: Her daughter is now old enough to take in and remember her mom's last go on the track.

"It's really just been small moments along the way, like having my family come out to meets... and just taking in those moments," Felix explained. "More than anything, my daughter getting to watch me run and actually understanding it now. She loves cheering for me."

"It's definitely affecting her in a different way now," she added, referring to her now 3-year-old. "And so that's really special to see, and I love it."

Felix knows it'll be easier said than done to walk away from the sport that's made her a legend. After all, she's spent the past two decades — since she was 17 years old — competing at the highest levels.

But even for someone known for her blazing-fast speeds, slowing down has its merits. Felix is eager to move on to "my next challenges and adventures," including "being present" at home with Camryn, building her business, and using her voice to raise awareness of health disparities that impact Black moms like her.

"It's going to be tough as I transition, I think," Felix admitted. "This is the life I've known for so long. And so I'm sure — I know I'm going to miss it. And I think it'll be hard waking up and realizing I don't have a full day of training and all of that.

"But I'm also really excited for the future."