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Allyson Felix delighted by Olympic schedule change

Changes to the times of the women's 200m and 400m events at the 2016 Olympic Games has elated Allyson Felix, who is targeting both titles.
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Allyson Felix has thanked the IAAF and International Olympic Committee (IOC) for changing the 2016 Olympic Games schedule to make it more feasible for her to participate in the 200m and 400m events.

Felix won the gold medal in the 200m at the Olympics in London and is also the reigning 400m world champion, but her aim to become only the third female to win both events at the Games was hampered by timing issues - the first round of the women's 200 taking place 75 minutes before the final of the 400.

USA Track and Field (USATF) lobbied the IAAF for changes which were confirmed on Saturday, with the first round of the women's 200 moved from the evening to the morning of August 15, extending the period before the 400 final on the evening of the same day.

The 30-year-old was elated her desire had been accomodated by the organising bodies.

"I am grateful that the IAAF and IOC adjusted the timing of the 200 and 400 events so that athletes like myself could more feasibly attempt to compete in both events," Felix said in a statement.

"Thanks, too, to USATF for advocating for the athletes. The schedule was just the first step. The next step is to make the US Olympic team.

"I am currently training for both events and am excited for the opportunity to attempt this incredibly difficult feat."

Valerie Brisco-Hooks and Marie-Jose Perec are the only females to have won both events at an Olympic Games in 1984 and 1996 respectively.

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