In 2005, when Allyson Felix first landed in Qatar for her maiden Doha Grand Prix appearance, she was just another Olympic medalist filling in the event’s impressive international roster.
Eight years later after her debut race, Allyson, 27, won’t be just another entrant in the 400m race but the main female attraction.
Having won 10 races in as many entries in Doha in an eight- year run, the American is also the first reigning IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year competing in Doha.
“It is always nice to compete in Doha. I feel very comfortable in Qatar and in many ways it has started to feel like home away from home. The people are so friendly, they are really supporting me and I can feel their love surrounding me. I am very proud of my ten win streak; I guess I am getting old….. Training is going well and I am excited to go after another victory in Doha,” said Felix after her name was announced by the Doha 2013 Diamond League Organising Committee at the press conference on April 10 in Doha, Qatar.
Reacting to this announcement, the chairman of Qatar Athletic Federation (QAF,) Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad had some few spoken words for Felix:
“Alyson Felix is Always most welcomed in Doha. Her name is attached to Doha’s Grand Prix history with so many victories and meeting records to her tally. I couldn’t imagine Doha Diamond League without Allyson Felix being named among the participants,” in his words.
Allyson, who recently fulfilled her childhood dream by capturing her first ever Olympic gold medal in an individual event (200m) after three gold medals as a member of US relay squads, still has a tape worm biting in her tummy.
“Finally achieving my goal of Olympic Gold has been a surreal feeling, I have been chasing that goal for so long that I had to regroup and look at my goals for the future. Since I have been back to training I have realized that I love the feeling of Gold and I am even more hungry to achieve it again,” Felix reiterated. Allyson Felix is also the second- placed World Championships multi- medalist all- time list, having won eight gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Her main rival on the road to her eleventh Doha victory will be reigning World Champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana, who recently failed to win a medal in London (4th,) as well as former Olympic/World Champion and London Olympics silver medalist, Briton Christine Ohuruogu. Others are Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medalist Shericka Williams from Jamaica and US 4×400m team mate Francena McCorory.
