Allyson Felix is planning a comeback to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles [1, 2].
The return of the American sprinter marks a significant attempt to challenge the biological expectations of elite athletics. As the most decorated track-and-field athlete in Olympic history, Felix aims to prove what is possible for an athlete at age 40 [1, 3].
Felix has already secured 11 Olympic medals, including seven gold [4]. Her decision to return is driven by a desire to add to this historic haul and a personal definition of success. She said the opportunity is a personal measure of success [3, 5].
"It is a privilege to go see what’s possible," Felix said on The Pivot Podcast [5].
Returning to the sport brings her back to her hometown, which will serve as the host city for the 2028 Games [2, 4]. Felix said the prospect is a "once-in-a-lifetime homecoming" [4].
Training for the comeback is scheduled to begin in October [6]. This preparation follows a period of retirement from major competition. While some reports indicate she left the sport after the Tokyo Games, other records show she last raced at the 2022 World Championships [4, 7].
Felix will be 40 years old during the 2028 Games [1, 6]. Her pursuit of further medals in Los Angeles represents a rare attempt by a sprinter of her stature to return to the world stage after a multi-year hiatus.
“"It is a privilege to go see what’s possible."”
Felix's comeback is more than a quest for medals; it is a test of athletic longevity. By competing at 40 in her hometown, she is positioning herself as a benchmark for veteran athletes and challenging the traditional age ceilings of sprinting, where explosive power typically declines with age.
