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An Olympian stood up to a $170 billion global brand, forced change, and got paid in the process.
Time for a thread
Time for a thread
1) Allyson Felix, nicknamed the "Queen of Track", is one of the greatest female athletes of our generation.
As a 9x Olympic medalist, including 6 gold medals, Felix has won more world championships and Olympic titles than any other female track athlete in history.
As a 9x Olympic medalist, including 6 gold medals, Felix has won more world championships and Olympic titles than any other female track athlete in history.
2) As Allyson Felix continued to dominate the competition, the endorsements poured in.
Most notably, Nike signed Felix to a head-to-toe endorsement deal that lasted over a decade.
Everything was great...until it wasn't.
Most notably, Nike signed Felix to a head-to-toe endorsement deal that lasted over a decade.
Everything was great...until it wasn't.
3) In 2018, Felix and her husband decided to start a family.
Typically one of the happiest moments of a couples life, turned into a nightmare for Felix.
Typically one of the happiest moments of a couples life, turned into a nightmare for Felix.
4) When it came time for Felix to renegotiate with Nike, their offer came in at 70% less than her previous contract.
That’s not even the issue.
Nike was unwilling to contractually guarantee her reduced salary if her performance declined in the months surrounding her pregnancy.
That’s not even the issue.
Nike was unwilling to contractually guarantee her reduced salary if her performance declined in the months surrounding her pregnancy.
5) As Felix said in her @nytimes op-ed:
"If I, one of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes, couldn’t secure these protections, who could?"
Imagine other athletes who aren’t elite, that aren’t as marketable to Nike, what happens to them?
Allyson Felix was fighting for them.
"If I, one of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes, couldn’t secure these protections, who could?"
Imagine other athletes who aren’t elite, that aren’t as marketable to Nike, what happens to them?
Allyson Felix was fighting for them.
6) Felix cut off negotiations with Nike shortly after, signing a multi-year endorsement deal with Gap-owned athleisure brand Athleta.
Athleta included the maternity protections she coveted and branded her as an “Athlete, Mother, and Activist” for their global campaign.
Athleta included the maternity protections she coveted and branded her as an “Athlete, Mother, and Activist” for their global campaign.
7) As for Nike, the power of public pressure won out.
After Felix went public in the @nytimes, and one congressional inquiry later, Nike announced a new maternity policy for athletes.
All Nike contracts now include guaranteed athlete pay & bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy
After Felix went public in the @nytimes, and one congressional inquiry later, Nike announced a new maternity policy for athletes.
All Nike contracts now include guaranteed athlete pay & bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy
8) These situations are always complex, but we should never let complexity get in the way of doing the right thing.
It is hard to imagine what it took to fight a $170 billion global brand, but we know that Felix's fight led to material change at Nike.
It is hard to imagine what it took to fight a $170 billion global brand, but we know that Felix's fight led to material change at Nike.
9) In the end, it’s always worth fighting for what you know is right — no matter how challenging it might seem.
@allysonfelix, thank you for reminding us of that.
@allysonfelix, thank you for reminding us of that.
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If you're interested in reading the full @nytimes op-ed, you can find it
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/opinion/allyson-felix-pregnancy-nike.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/opinion/allyson-felix-pregnancy-nike.html
