00:00What did it feel like going into your last couple of races, knowing you were on the brink of tying or surpassing Carl Lewis as being the most decorated U.S. athlete in track and field?
00:12I really tried not to think about, you know, kind of these milestones and just focus on like the race.
00:19You know, for me, I wanted to be present in the moment and then afterwards to be able to reflect on, you know, whatever else was to come.
00:27Right. That makes sense.
00:30So similar. I feel like I already know your answer to this then.
00:34But how does it feel getting to the end of the games, knowing that you're going into retirement?
00:40Can you believe it? Are you relieved, happy, sad?
00:44What's sort of, you know, going through your mind running that last Olympic race?
00:51Yeah, I feel really at peace, you know, that my last race at the Olympics was really special, you know, to come together with my teammates,
00:57to win a gold medal is, you know, is all I could have ever dreamt of.
01:04So just, you know, such a special moment.
01:07And, you know, I'll see what happens next year.
01:09This was my last, you know, run at the games.
01:12But we have a world championships in the States for the first time.
01:15So looking forward to that and, yeah, and all the other things that I want to have time for.
01:21And you've, you know, accomplished so much in your career on the track, but also everything you've done advocating for maternity leave and maternal mortality.
01:35Of these things, what are you most proud of?
01:41That's a tough one.
01:43Yeah, I think I'm proud of it all.
01:45You know, I'm proud of just on, you know, trying to advocate on behalf of women, you know, and a lot of that stemmed from my own experiences.
01:54And so, you know, that's what took me down the path of the black maternal mortality crisis.
01:58That's what had me push for maternal protections and contracts for female athletes and all of those things.
02:04So I would just say for trying to represent on behalf of women.
02:11What are you going to miss most about competing in the Olympics?
02:17Oh, gosh, I think I'm going to miss it all.
02:19I love the Olympic spirit.
02:21You know, I love everything that the Olympics means.
02:24And it's such a special time.
02:26And and coming together of athletes from all, you know, different countries and cultures and all of those things.
02:34And so I know that I'll miss that the most.
02:37But I have a lot of memories to go back on for when I'm missing it.
02:44Yeah, it really is a special, very special event.
02:48Yeah.
02:49Every four or five years.
02:51Right.
02:52Um, so as we look ahead to future Olympics, are there any track and field stars, women, men that you're excited to see grow and develop?
03:04Of course, you know, I my teammates last night that I ran the four by four with are all incredible athletes.
03:13I am so excited about a thing.
03:15She is truly special.
03:17We've already seen that demonstrated, but she has so much more.
03:21My teammate who and training partner, Sydney McLaughlin, who, you know, again, is in her moment now.
03:27And so much more to do, inspired by Delilah as well.
03:32And so there is just such depth and talent that we have in the sport.
03:38And I will be their biggest cheerleader.
03:40Um, so what would you say, um, to Cameron, if she were to decide to become an athlete?
03:50Um, I would make sure that she's absolutely sure she wants to do that.
03:54Um, but I would, you know, I'm going to support her, whatever she, she does.
03:58I'll probably try to steer her like to tennis or something different.
04:02Um, but I just, I think sports are amazing.
04:05They teach you so many, um, life lessons, whether you go down the professional road or
04:10you choose a different profession altogether.
04:12I think that you really hold those experiences of working as a team and dealing with failure
04:18and all of these things that we all continue to go back to.
04:21And so, um, those are things that I want her to learn through sport for sure.
04:25And I think that's why we all love the Olympics too.
04:29Um, sort of the bigger story there.
04:31Um, oh, this is, this is tough.
04:35What's it like to be the most decorated athlete in a lot, in Olympic track history?
04:40What is, what is it like?
04:42Um, it's only, it's only been less than 24 hours.
04:48At this moment, um, it feels, uh, incredibly humbling.
04:53You know, I have such gratitude for everyone who has come before me, who has given me so
05:00much inspiration, who has paved the way.
05:02I know that I would not be sitting here with accomplishments, um, that I have without others.
05:08And so, um, it's just, um, it's a very special feeling and, um, yeah, it's pretty neat.
05:14Um, well, we will round this one out.
05:19Um, with, um, a question about Pantene and what's your legacy campaign.
05:25Um, tell us a little bit about that work, um, and why that campaign is special and important
05:31to you.
05:31I'm so proud of what Pantene is doing and how they're celebrating legacy with the, what's
05:38your legacy campaign.
05:40Um, I love that it not only focuses on, you know, legacy in the field of play and for me,
05:48you know, on the track, but outside of that and for using my voice and for standing up for
05:53what I believe was right and for others.
05:55Um, and I think that's what legacy is all about and that's so important for me when I think
06:00about my own life and my own daughter and those special moments that we share.
06:05And so I'm, um, really, really excited and proud of this campaign.
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