What’s in a name? Allyson Felix honored by her alma mater

The University of Southern California (USC) announced they will name the school’s track field after Olympic legend Allyson Felix.

Felix is the most decorated women’s track and field Olympian of all-time. She won a gold and bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, her fifth Olympic Games. Felix retired last year with 11 Olympic medals, seven of them gold. She also has 14 World Athletics Championship gold medals.

“I am just completely humbled,” she said in a statement. “It’s such a huge honor to be a part of history in the campus. It’s such a special place for me.”

Felix was born in Los Angeles and graduated from USC in 2008 with a degree in elementary education. Last year she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from USC and was the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony.

USC has produced many notable athletes and Olympians like Lisa Leslie, Janet Evans and Louis Zamperini. In fact, USC athletes have won at least one Olympic gold medal in the Summer Games since Stockholm 1912. Entering the Tokyo 2020 Games, if USC was a country their medal count would’ve put them in the top 10 of 11 different Summer Games.

But none of them have accomplished as much as Felix, and future Olympic athletes will be competing and training at Allyson Felix Field.

“My hope is that students playing on the Allyson Felix Field, or just walking by, will see her name prominently displayed and be curious to learn more about her talent, grit and generosity,” said University President Carol Folt in a statement.

Felix appreciates the honor, which the school usually reserves for wealthy donors.

“It just really shows what USC values. I feel proud of the things that I’ve stood for, and it makes me proud to be an alumna because of the direction that the school is going,” Felix said.

Allyson Felix Field, previously Cromwell Field, is located at Katherine B. Loker Track Stadium, the center of the school’s athletic competitions.