Allyson Felix: Olympic great calls for better maternity care for black women after Tori Bowie's death

Tori Bowie (left) died during childbirth portion golden medal-winning team-mates Tianna Madison (formerly Bartoletta, 2nd left)) and Allyson Felix (third left) had life-threatening complications

Olympic large Allyson Felix has called for amended maternity attraction for achromatic women to guarantee the decease of team-mate Tori Bowie is "not successful vain".

Of the 4 Americans who teamed up to triumph 4x100m relay golden astatine the Rio 2016 Olympics, 3 person astir died oregon died portion giving birth.

Felix gave commencement astatine 32 weeks successful 2018, having developed pre-eclampsia, and was "unsure if she was going to marque it".

Her and Bowie's team-mate Tianna Madison (formerly Bartoletta) said she nearly died during childbirth aft going into labour astatine 26 weeks.

Writing for Time magazine, seven-time Olympic champion Felix said: "Three golden medallists from that 4x100m relay squad successful Rio acceptable retired to go mothers. All 3 of america - each Black women - had superior complications.

"Tori passed away. We're dealing with a achromatic maternal wellness crisis. Here you person 3 Olympic champions and we're inactive astatine risk."

Felix, the astir decorated US way and tract jock of each time, pointed to CDC data from 2021 which states the maternity mortality complaint for achromatic women successful the United States is 2.6 times higher than the complaint for achromatic women.

In the UK, information published by the University of Oxford successful 2021 showed achromatic women were four times much likely than achromatic women to dice successful gestation and childbirth.

Felix said: "That needs to change, now, particularly successful airy of Tori's tragic passing.

"Awareness is huge. Serena Williams had near-death complications during her pregnancy. Beyonce developed pre-eclampsia [a information that causes precocious humor unit during gestation and aft labour].

"I hatred that it takes Tori's concern to enactment this backmost connected the representation and to get radical to wage attraction to it. But oftentimes, we request that wake-up call."

Felix, 37, added she has a "very existent concern" astir having much children and called for the aesculapian assemblage to "do its part" and "hear the symptom of achromatic women".

"I'm hopeful that things tin get better," she added.

"I'm hopeful that Tori, who stood connected the podium astatine Rio, golden astir her cervix and sweetness successful her soul, won't dice successful vain."

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