Simone Biles and Allyson Felix are both legends in the gym and on the track.
And in recent years, they've grown into trailblazers outside of their respective sports, too. Both left Nike, the titans of the sportswear space, and each of their longtime sponsors, for a fresh start with Athleta. And just this week, the pair of superstar Olympians met for the first time.
Felix welcomed the 24-year-old gymnast to the Athleta team and told her "I cannot wait to cheer you on" in Tokyo. Biles, for her part, said she's "admired [Felix] and Athleta for a really long time." Then she complimented Felix's young daughter, Cammy, and said it was "so cute" when the toddler greeted her lightning-quick mom after her race at US Olympic trials.
Biles followed suit this year. And on her way out, the superstar gymnast implied that Nike did not support her adequately "as an individual."
"I felt like it wasn't just about my achievements, it's what I stood for and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be a voice for females and kids," Biles told The Wall Street Journal's Louise Radnofsky about her deal with Athleta. "I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but just as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create, which is so refreshing."
"Athleta is committed to diversity and inclusion, of all women, backgrounds, ages, sizes, abilities, and races," she added.
Felix and Biles will both compete at the Tokyo Olympics in a few short weeks. Biles will kickoff her swansong alongside her Team USA counterparts during qualification on Sunday, July 25. Felix, meanwhile, has qualified for the 400-meter event and will look to make the final on August 6.
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