Olympian Allyson Felix breaks one of Usain Bolt's world records 10 months after giving birth

American sprinter Allyson Felix just broke one of retired Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's world records only 10 months after giving birth, CNN reports. After winning her 12th gold medal at the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium as a member of the mixed-gender 4x400m relay team on Sunday, September 30, Felix is now the record-holder for most gold medals at the track and field World Championships. She's already one of the most decorated athletes in track and field. Following her win, she posted simply to social media platform Twitter: Humbled

The sprinter has already won a combined nine medals between each of her four Olympic games. Six of the nine medals she has earned are gold. This is her first season as a new mother. While she makes it look easy, it definitely has not been an easy journey for Felix. In November last year, the athlete fought preeclampsia and had to undergo an emergency C-section at only 32 weeks pregnant in order to give birth to her daughter. A month later, in December 2018, she revealed just how taxing the experience was while sharing her birth story with news network ESPN.

Felix explained that it was immensely difficult to keep up the image of a world-class athlete while in the midst of a pregnancy. Additionally, she talked about the emotional toll that the newborn intensive care unit takes on the families that are forced to stay there. The sprinter also revealed how terrifying it was to think about how she may have had to let go of her plans as an athlete. Felix stated, "If I come back and I'm just not the same, if I can't make a fifth Olympic team, I'm gonna know that I fought, that I was determined, and that I gave it my absolute all. And if it doesn't end up the way I imagined in my head, it'll be OK. I just have to go for it, because that's just simply who we are now."

Moreover, not only is she now a world record-holder and a new mom, but she was also part of a groundbreaking movement that persuaded sports brand Nike to amend archaic maternity policies for its sponsored athletes. Working with fellow women runners Alysia Montaño, Kara Goucher, and Phoebe Wright, Felix was able to convince the brand to change its policy. Now, women athletes will not be "adversely impacted financially for pregnancy" for 18 months, six months longer than granted under the previous policy. While she no longer works with Nike, she has become the first athlete to be sponsored by Athleta, a company owned by Gap. Felix will be attending her fifth Olympic games shortly - she will be representing the United States during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.