by Larry EderAllyson Felix was the IAAF Rising Star nine years ago, at the IAAF Gala. Nine years later, she has earned the most competitive award in our sport, the World Athlete of the Year. Allyson Felix, as she always is, was most gracious. She admitted that after Beijing she was devastated with her loss. She called something from within, and went to work on changing her results in London from Beijing.
And that, she did.
Her London runs, the personal best in the 100 meters, the 200 meter victory and the relays legs, on the 4 x 100m, her team set the WR, and in the 4 x 400m, her team won the gold!
How tough was it to get into the finalists positions in 2012?
Valerie Adams, the gold medalist in the shot put had dominated the event for five years and Jessica Ennis had climbed from silver to gold in a year in the heptathlon and broke the British record!
So, to win the World Athlete of the Year honors, Allyson Felix just had to have her best year ever, set a 100m PB, 200m victory, and run skillfully and fast on the long and short relays.
For Allyson Felix, this is an award that she will savor.
