When Women Stood

Alexandra Allred made sports (and medical) history through activism and determination. When she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to the first-ever U.S. women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the team. At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics. While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study, Allred was, at nearly five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex’s training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she served as a fitness/nutrition expert for two decades. Upon retirement, Sports Illustrated asked her to try out for a women’s professional football team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC and IOC) in regards to physical training for pregnant athletes and their babies; testified before the IOC at the London Games; served as an Air Ambassador, lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White House Champion of Change for Public Health. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and education. She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. In 2015, Allred created an exercise and empowerment program for special needs population who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need greater self-esteem and confidence building. This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special Needs world. www.alexandraallred.com