Allyson Felix Testifies at the House Ways & Means Committee’s Hearing on Maternal Mortality Crisis

Felix had an emergency cesarean section in November 2018 after her 32-week checkup showed problems with her baby’s heartbeat.

Six-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix testified at the House Ways & Means Committee’s hearing on overcoming racial disparities and social determinants in the maternal mortality crisis on Thursday.

Felix, 33, spoke about her experience giving birth to her daughter Camryn on Nov. 28, 2018. The 11-time world champion suffered through complications during her pregnancy and underwent an emergency C-section at 32 weeks after a checkup showed problems with her daughter's heartbeat.

"I thought maternal health was solely about fitness, resources and care," Felix said at the hearing. "If that was true, then why was this happening to me?" 

Allyson Felix on her life being at risk with severe preeclampsia before her emergency C-section at 32 weeks. Speaking at a House hearing on overcoming racial disparities and social determinants in the maternal mortality crisis. pic.twitter.com/R79vOLdkTI

— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) May 16, 2019

In a story for espnW published in December, Felix revealed that both her life and her daughter's lives were endangered during the process. Camryn stayed in the newborn intensive care unit for over a month.

"I learned that my story was not uncommon. There were others like me, just like me," Felix said. "Black like me, healthy like me, doing their best, just like me. And they faced death just like me, too."

Besides her six Olympic gold medals, and three more silver medals, Felix is also a 16-time world championship medalist. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Felix sprinted her way to three medals, two golds and one silver.

Felix plans on competing in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.