MISLEADINGAllyson Felix and Max Whitlock are 'coming back' for the LA28 Olympics, implying they will compete as athletes again
Both Felix and Whitlock have already retired from top level competition, so their 'return' for LA28 refers to ambassadorial or organisational roles rather than them lacing up as competitors again.
The claim
Headlines suggesting Allyson Felix and Max Whitlock are 'coming back for LA28' could easily be read as meaning these two decorated Olympians intend to compete once more at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
What we know about their careers
Allyson Felix, the most decorated female athlete in Olympic track and field history, retired from professional competition after the Tokyo 2020 Games, closing out her track career on her own terms. Max Whitlock, Britain's most successful gymnast, announced his retirement from elite gymnastics following the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he competed in what he confirmed would be his final Games.
Why the framing is misleading
Given both athletes have already stepped away from top-level competition, any 'return' for LA28 is far more likely to be in a promotional, ambassadorial, or organisational capacity, such as supporting the Games' build-up, mentoring young athletes, or featuring in LA28 marketing initiatives, rather than actually competing in track or gymnastics again. Presenting this as athletes 'coming back' without that context risks giving readers the false impression of a competitive comeback.
The bottom line
The underlying fact, that Felix and Whitlock are involved with LA28 in some capacity, is plausible and consistent with how retired Olympic stars are often used to promote upcoming Games. However, without clarifying that this is not a return to competition, the claim as framed overstates what is actually happening.