Allyson Felix and Tianna Madison are speaking out about the health disparities and risks Black women are facing during pregnancies.
The track and field champions’ comments came after new updates were revealed about the death of 2016 Olympic relay champion Frentorish “Tori” Bowie. Bowie died at 32 years old when she was eight months pregnant and in labor. Bowie’s autopsy listed both respiratory distress and eclampsia as likely complications during her childbirth.
The update on Bowie’s death was released by her agent Kimberly Holland.
“Unfortunately, so many people, including the media, are making speculations that she did something to herself, which is very hurtful, so hopefully, now knowing the truth, there will be many apologies,” Holland shared in a statement.
Felix previously has shared the complications that she herself experienced in childbirth. In Time, she stressed the need for serious actions to address the maternity health crisis facing Black women.
“Three gold medalists from that 4×100 relay team in Rio set out to become mothers. All three of us — all Black women — had serious complications,” Felix wrote. “We’re dealing with a Black Maternal Health crisis. Here you have three Olympic champions, and we’re still at risk.”
Madison also took to her Instagram page to share a post revealing her own delivery story.
“Black women have the HIGHEST maternal mortality rate. [Three] times higher than white women, and the more educated the black woman, the higher her mortality rate becomes,” Madison wrote.
She added that despite her going into labor at 26 weeks, she arrived with her medical advance directive and will.
“Additionally I had a VERY tough conversation with [Charles Ryan] about who to save if it came down to it. I was not at all confident that I’d be coming home,” she added, referencing her husband Ryan, who is a track and field coach.
The updates on Bowie’s death have added to the commentary and concerns regarding the maternity mortality rate of Black women.
This week, a collective of over 50 Black-led organizations presented lawmakers with the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda. It is a comprehensive guide to help them better address the reproductive concerns of Black women, girls and those who are gender expansive.
The guide uses a reproductive justice framework to offer recommendations on the ways lawmakers can better craft policy that aims to improve reproductive outcomes for Black women and girls.