“Running was never my dream,” Allyson Felix confessed on May 24 while addressing Brown University’s Class of 2025 at the historic First Baptist Church in America. “I was just a shy teenager at a new high school…..my family encouraged me to try out for the track team, so I showed up.” To anyone listening, that sounds like the start of an ordinary journey—middle class, humble beginnings, no silver spoon or spotlight. And yet, Allyson Felix would go on to become the most decorated track and field athlete in Olympic history, with 11 Olympic medals and 20 World Championship medals. So, how does someone with no dream of stardom end up becoming a legend? Is it the Great American Dream—the belief that with discipline, opportunity, and resilience, greatness is within reach?
Fast forward to Paris 2024. The American anthem plays, the flag rises—and Noah Lyles, eyes glistening, declares to the cameras: “I told you, America, I got this.” After a 20-year drought, he became the first American male sprinter to win Olympic 100m gold since 2004. But what makes Lyles’ victory even more profound was what he overcame: dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, depression, and a severe asthma condition that kept his mother awake. He could have been overlooked, and left behind. But this is America, where setbacks don’t define you, but rather support fuels recovery. Lyles didn’t just win for himself. He ran for every kid who’s been told they aren’t good enough, every family who prays for their child’s breakthrough, and every dreamer staring at barriers with fire in their eyes. So, here in anticipation of July 4th, let’s revisit how three American track stars, inspired by dreams, contributed to the sport and the nation.
Carl Lewis and his dominance in track and field
Last year, a X handle shared an in-depth breakdown of Carl Lewis’s world rankings from 1979 to 1996. The list featured both his sprint and field event standings, highlighting the sheer dominance of the American icon. Remarkably, beyond excelling in the 100m and 200m sprints, Lewis also reigned supreme in the long jump—matching the legendary legacy of his hero, Jesse Owens.
What do the numbers say? According to the ranking charts, Lewis consistently held a spot in the top two globally for the 100m from 1981 to 1991. In the long jump, his top-two streak stretched from 1981 all the way through 1992—proof of his unmatched consistency.
According to the《Track and Field》dates, Carl Lewis can be considered as the greatest track and field athlete of all time.not only does no one have such a huge number of statistics, but he is also the athlete involved in both track event and field event.@SchabSebastian pic.twitter.com/tYQngvqdPy
— Take Me Higher (@FBOzgFmJPM11934) July 2, 2024
His Olympic résumé is just as staggering: nine gold medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Games to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Yet for Lewis, his true contribution to the sport goes beyond the medal count. Reflecting on his influence, he once remarked: “I hoped to leave the sport much better than when I came in…” Now that’s what lasting impact looks like. But he isn’t the only one….
Allyson Felix’s footprints on both the track and the other side
Allyson Felix’s final Olympic gold came at the Tokyo Games, securing her place among track and field’s all-time greats. But her legacy isn’t limited to the medals. She became a powerful advocate for athlete mothers, particularly those uncertain about starting families due to sponsorship concerns. Felix had been with Nike for nearly ten years until her contract expired in November 2017. During renewal talks, Nike proposed a 70% pay cut— even before knowing she was pregnant. Despite being one of the most decorated athletes in the world, with six Olympic golds at that point, Felix’s request for protection from performance-based penalties during and after pregnancy was denied.
“It went downhill from there,” she explained. “I think this amplified my fear because I had seen teammates really struggle through motherhood and not be supported, and that to me was devastating.” Her decision to speak out publicly, joined by fellow Nike athletes Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher—who faced similar challenges—sparked a national conversation and led to a congressional inquiry. Under growing pressure, Nike revised its maternity policy, pledging to honor pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy.
DOHA, QATAR – SEPTEMBER 29: Allyson Felix of the United States reacts after setting a new world record in the 4×400 Metres Mixed Relay during day three of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The movement prompted other major brands like Nuun, Burton, Brooks, and Altra to reform their maternity guidelines, while Adidas committed to paying up to 70% of athletes’ salaries during maternity leave. In 2021, Felix launched her own women-centered footwear brand, Saysh, designed with female athletes in mind. Well, she didn’t stop there—Felix also testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in May 2019, addressing issues related to maternal health and mortality. All this years, Felix wasn’t just advocating for herself—she was opening doors for everyone. While she continues to create waves both on and off the track, we have another American track and field star known for simply dominating the track!
Noah Lyles’s charisma and dominance on the track
The year 2023 marked a turning point in Noah Lyles’s sprinting career. At the London Diamond League, he clocked 19.47 seconds in the men’s 200m, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record for the most wind-legal sub-20 performances—a defining moment in track history. Then, at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Lyles made headlines once again by completing a stunning triple crown—gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
But Lyles wasn’t content with past achievements. As with unmatched ambition, he set his sights on even greater heights. “I think when everybody gets to the top, they start to realize, ‘What do I have to do to be considered the greatest when I leave the sport?’” he said after claiming victory in the 200m at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. “Grabbing a world record is one of two things that I still have left to do: one being grabbing an Olympic gold, and then, two, grabbing a world record.” By the time the Paris Olympics arrived, the world was watching….
And Lyles delivered! He silenced critics with a brilliant gold in the men’s 100m, then showed immense grit by competing in the 200m despite battling COVID, earning a hard-fought bronze medal. It all happened in just one week. While he may not have claimed the world record yet, Noah Lyles has already carved his name into the sport’s legacy—not just as a champion, but as a symbol of resilience and the American spirit.
So, on this Fourth of July, as flags fly high, remember: Carl Lewis, Allyson Felix, and Noah Lyles have not run just for glory, but for the American Dream—for freedom, for greatness, for those yet to dream. Some stars don’t just shine—they race.
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