Allyson Felix Had a 'Vision' for a Family Space in the Olympic Village — How She Made It Happen in Paris (Exclusive)

The Pampers Family Space is in use by Olympians and their young children, thanks to the track and field superstar's advocacy for elite athletes' parenting needs

Traveling with a young child is not easy — between the huge amount to pack, disrupted sleep schedules and possible picky eaters on the road, it's a challenge for even the most prepared parent. Now add "needing to compete at an elite level on a world stage" into the mix, and you'll have an idea of the challenges Olympic parents are facing.

"The first season [of competing after giving birth to daughter Camryn, 5] I took her everywhere with me and it was really challenging in ways sometimes small and sometimes big," track and field icon Allyson Felix tells PEOPLE in Paris on July 30. "Nursing in stadiums and training facilities and washing bottles in hotels and all the things."

It's why, when she was appointed to the IOC Athlete's Commission following her retirement, Felix "wanted to advocate for moms and families" — an initiative she has long been a champion for, dating back to helping to cover childcare costs for athletes in training ahead of the last Olympics.

Related: Allyson Felix Doesn't 'Feel the Itch' to Go Back to Running: 'I'm Where I'm Supposed to Be'

"I had been focused on initiatives around childcare at other events," she explains. "So when we started talking about the Olympics, I was like, 'This is what I would love to see happen.' And I was really shocked. It was well received and we kind of hit the ground running with plans for Paris."

Those plans were for a dedicated nursery and family space in the 2024 Olympic Village. The Pampers Family Space, in partnership with Procter & Gamble, is the first of its kind in Olympic history and provides a space for athletes — both moms and dads — to spend time with their children while staying in the Village.

"It's really meant to feel like a space in your home," says Felix, 38. "So of course all the products, the high-quality Pampers diapers and wipes that they can take advantage of. But then there are soft spaces for the baby to play. There's toys, there's books, there's a dedicated breastfeeding space. It's just a place that feels very comfortable to lounge and to be with your family."

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Felix says there has been positive feedback from the Olympians who have used the room, including Team Ireland's Ashleigh Orchard. The rugby player welcomed daughter Arabella, 11 months, last August, and was able to enjoy the space with her family.

"People in general are really grateful," Felix, who is now a mom of two after welcoming son Trey in April, says. "I've heard from some dads also, which is really cool. I'm excited at the end of everything to get the full breakdowns and get more feedback from people of what can we do differently and what did they like most."

Related: Allyson Felix on the Last Teachable Moment with Daughter, 4: 'She Thought She Was Going to Get It'

Time in the Olympic Village "can be a lot," in general, says Felix. The athlete — the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time with 11 medals — participated in five Games, her first in 2008.

"It's one of my most favorite things about the Olympics because you just get a mix of everything, and you go to the dining hall and maybe you meet someone that you've admired forever," she says. "And I just love anything can happen at the Village, but at the same time it is tight quarters and it's your most important competition. So it can be challenging."

This new space should serve as a respite, she hopes — though, as with most of her accomplishments, Felix is already thinking about how she can go even farther with it.

"I's an amazing place to start," she tells PEOPLE. "I would love to keep growing it. But now, it feels like a home . . . and that's what it's meant to be."

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympics newsletter, to get the biggest stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, beginning July 26, on NBC and Peacock.

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Read the original article on People.