Peloton is ‘humbling’ for Allyson Felix – one of the most decorated athletes in Olympics history

• Allyson Felix is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the Olympics.
• The American sprinter told Insider she thinks Peloton is "so challenging" regardless.
• "With Peloton, oftentimes I have to remind myself that I'm a professional athlete," Felix said.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Allyson Felix is, without question, one of the most accomplished athletes on the planet.

But don't expect the American sprinter's prowess on the track to translate to the Peloton bike.

"It doesn't help me being an Olympic athlete," Felix told Insider, laughing. "It's always funny because I've talked to a few people who I've been in classes with, and I think they think, 'Oh, there's this Olympic athlete here and she's going to do amazing' and then it's like, no. With Peloton, oftentimes like I have to remind myself that I'm a professional athlete because it's not like what I do."

"It's always so humbling because it's so challenging," she added. "But I love it because when I'm on the bike, it gives me a different type of workout, and it pushes me in a whole different way."

The nine-time Olympic medalist – six golds and three silver medals, for those keeping score – is one of nine elite athletes who partnered with the fitness brand as part of its "Champions Collection" that launched this summer.

She worked with instructor Jess Sims to craft a week-long training program for Peloton members that emulates the types of workouts Felix, a longtime Peloton member herself, has incorporated into her regular training routine. Walking, running, yoga, meditation, and more - none of which requires equipment - are all part of the exercise regimen.

"It was actually a really authentic partnership because I was a member before, so I was a part of the community," Felix said. "And so when this opportunity came about, I was just so excited about it because I already felt like I was friends with all the instructors."

"I've just been so excited to be able to create content and actually work with some of my favorite instructors to create a training plan for members," she added.

Though Felix has long been a proponent of Peloton in her own right, it was her husband, Kenneth Ferguson, who was "totally obsessed" with the brand and first introduced her to its offerings.

Now that Felix has a Peloton training program, Ferguson is working his way through it. And even though he's "always up for a challenge," Felix isn't so sure he's able to handle everything she threw his way.

"I believe that he's already started my program," Felix said. "He's saying that he's crushing it, but I'll have to actually get in there and see what's actually happening and to make sure that that's really the real deal. We'll see."

Meanwhile, Felix is busy taking on a different, marginally more consequential challenge of her own. After finishing second in the 400m final at US Olympic Trials last month, she punched her ticket to the fifth Olympic games of her illustrious sprinting career.

Already the most decorated woman in American track and field history, Felix will look to medal in that same event on Friday, August 6, to tie American track legend Carl Lewis for most Olympic medals among all USA Track & Field athletes, regardless of gender.

"I don't even know if it's really hit me yet, or if it's really sunk in that this just represents so much more than running fast," Felix said. "It's so much bigger than that."