Sometimes, Mary Cain even laughs in the seven-minute video. The article shows the 23-year-old with trophies and trophies on the running track. But the appearance is deceptive, the beautiful pictures are underlaid with cruel sentences: Cain tells in the video of the "New York Times" from last week of abuse and humiliation. She recounts how the Nike Oregon Project (NOP) and head coach Alberto Salazar have ruined their careers. With her revelations, the American could have become the symbolic figure that has not existed during the years of investigation into the NOP. The symbolic figure that is needed.
By mid-October, the NOP had been discontinued by its operators. Anyone visiting the website of the world's most famous running group that morning came across error messages. With her, the Instagram account of the NOP and the online fan shop disappeared. The fact that German athlete Konstanze Klosterhalfen recently raved that the NOP was "super-cool" and that they could hardly wait to return to the USA was quickly wiped out by the skull and crossbones.
All of this seemed like Nike wanted nothing more to do with his prestige project. As if there had never been the experiments with hormones that are accused of the project; as if one could simply forget the time under Salazar. But the past has now overtaken the NOP.
From broken bones to self-injury
For many years Cain had been silent. Out of fear, out of shame, she says. But after the sensational doping ban against Salazar and the NOP, the former athlete of the project went public.
In the interview with The New York Times, the 23-year-old spoke of a system in which she was "mentally and physically abused." The former miracle-worker told of broken bones, the absence of the period over three years, self-injury. She said she had been pressured to lose more and more weight. They were publicly weighed in front of the group - to humiliate them.
ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Alberto Salazar was once himself a marathon runner
For years there has been a strong murmur on the scene that the NOP would work by illicit means and test questionable methods to athletes, thereby exceeding limits. There was no evidence. From Oregon one heard only rejections or nothing at all. As long as it went, they celebrated there many titles and world records; enjoyed his innovative training methods that cost millions of dollars.
But during the World Athletics Championships in Qatar in early October, the suspensions were suddenly penalties, the suspensions of Salazar and a longtime team doctor of the project had become known. At its core, it deals with prohibited substances, unauthorized infusions, cover-up attempts, health risks for athletes.
One could classify Cain's allegations as confirmation of the previous investigation results. But they are more: The injured athletes of the NOP got a face with Cain, a voice. The unconcrete statement "Athletes' Health Hazards" has now become something very concrete, a story with personal accounts of a young woman. A case of abuse of a woman who was still a minor when she joined the NOP in 2013.
"Her butt is so big she can barely lift her knees"
For Nike, the situation is so threatening because Cain's story does not seem to be an isolated incident. Cain's allegations are confirmed by other former participants of the project.
Salazar's ex-assistant Steve Magness said he had systematically forced athletes to lose weight. Magness wrote on Twitter that dealing with Cain was "part of the culture". Even if Cain did well, Salazar is said to have replied, "Her butt is so big she can barely get her knees up." Such remarks have been repeated over other athletes in the project, Magness wrote. In an Instagram post by former NOP athlete Jackie Areson it says that exactly this saying was also fallen to her.
The Cain video of the "New York Times":
"I joined Nike because I wanted to be the best female athlete, ever." Instead, I was physically and emotionally abused, "Mary Cain says. https://t.co/q97MtFHcrK pic.twitter.com/d8VPSm6baZ
- New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) November 10, 2019Cain says in the video that many men on coaching positions have been a problem. There must be more trainers for female athletes: "I was trapped in a system designed by men for men, destroying the bodies of young women." In the past, former NOP athlete Kara Goucher had already made similar statements in this direction.
Why Magness and Goucher did not go public much earlier with their observations? That's what they are. Already seven years ago, Magness made initial allegations against the NOP over the Usada. He also wrote down his observations for the US medium ProPublica, as did Goucher. But in the general public both remained unheard for a long time. It was a frustrating time, Magness said. He was glad, "that the public finally wakes up".
Cain wants to use her experiences and help athletes
The impetus for this has been given mainly by Cain, and the wave of allegations is likely to gain strength. Canadian long-hauler and former NOP athlete Cameron Levins said he saw "obsessed with our coaching staff" to make Cain lose weight. Former athlete Amy Begley wrote that she flew out of the NOP in 2011 because she finished sixth in a race. "I am too fat and have the biggest butt at the starting line", the reason should have been. The now 41-year-old wrote on Twitter in the direction of Cain: "I have great respect for her, she is still so young and I can not imagine what she has to go through now."
Meanwhile, Nike responded with allegations that lawyers want to cast doubt on Cain's credibility. The athlete and her parents had never complained during the time in the NOP, they said. There is no word in the group's opinion of any possible handling of the allegations. Salazar also denies the allegations and wants to appeal to the Court of Justice Cas Appeal, there will be a first hearing in the coming year.
The review is now the task of the anti-doping agencies and the International Olympic Committee. Also, the International Athletics Federation will have to participate, especially since the next World Championships in athletics takes place in the Nike state of Oregon. But the associations must also be active to send a message to those injured like Cain: Do not shut up in fear and shame, we support you.
Mary Cain starts right there. She wants to create a platform for athletes and their parents, which should enable them to train better. A better workout than she got.
