When Mary Cain stepped onto the track as a high schooler, it was clear that she was a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. Her rise was quick and spectacular — which made it all the more stunning that just a few years after going pro with Nike, she stepped down from competitive running.
Mary joins host Anita Rao to talk about the physical and emotional abuse she says she experienced behind the scenes and the systemic change she is calling for in sports culture.
Mary Cain is the author of “This is Not About Running: A Memoir” and the founder of the nonprofit Atalanta NYC.
NOTE: We reached out to Nike, Alberto Salazar and Darren Treasure for comment. Here is Nike’s statement:
Nike has long taken pride in supporting athletes at all levels of sport and prioritizing their well‑being and remains committed to advancing women’s sport.
We respect Mary Cain’s right to share her personal perspective. While we have not reviewed her book or heard the podcast conversation in full, we anticipate her comments relate to events from 2012 to 2016; she joined the Oregon Project in 2013.
Nike is aware that her account raises concerns about coaching practices, athlete support, and the involvement of medical and performance resources during that period. Based on Nike’s review of public records and available information from that time, the company did not find that these concerns were raised or reported to Nike at the time.
Since that time, Alberto Salazar is no longer associated with Nike, the Oregon Project was discontinued in 2019, and related litigation involving Nike was resolved in 2023 on mutually acceptable terms.
Here is Alberto Salazar’s statement:
It is greatly disappointing that Mary Cain has chosen to mischaracterize her time working with me and the Nike Oregon Project. During Ms. Cain’s short time training with me in Oregon, a period of approximately nine months, she faced many challenges related to her effort to move from being a high school athlete to being a professional athlete. During this time, it was always my goal to support Ms. Cain and to help her succeed. The Nike Oregon Project was a professional running team, consisting of highly dedicated, highly compensated athletes striving to be the most elite runners to compete on the global stage. It was a rigorous training environment but also a supportive one, directed at ensuring the health and safety of its athletes. The Nike Oregon Project had a network of qualified coaches, doctors, trainers, and other athlete support professionals supporting its runners. Many athletes thrived in that rigorous environment, winning on the international stage. I am sorry that this program was not a good fit for Ms. Cain. However, her mischaracterization of the environment as “toxic” and “abusive” is unfortunate and inaccurate.
Ms. Cain’s other accusations are similarly false and disappointing. I did not speak to her inappropriately, yell at her in public (or in private), or make disparaging comments about her weight. Nor did I attempt to alienate her from her parents during her short time training with me in Oregon. To the contrary, Ms. Cain’s parents were closely involved in her training and career, and they ultimately played a significant role in her decision to withdraw from the Nike Oregon Project. This was a decision that I supported and encouraged, because I recognized that it was best for her mental and emotional wellbeing. Indeed, years later, when she tried to have me coach her again, I refused to do so. During the time I coached her, I always welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Cain’s involvement, spoke to them often, and supported Ms. Cain’s frequent visits with them. I don’t believe that a single month went by without Ms. Cain visiting with her parents. Ms. Cain’s father, a doctor, was also closely involved in selecting the doctors who provided medical care and advice to Ms. Cain, and her accusations that I forced her to receive medical care from unqualified doctors are completely false. Lastly, the vague allegation that I “groomed” Ms. Cain is inaccurate, misleading, and unsubstantiated by any evidence.
I am sincerely sorry that Ms. Cain’s running career was derailed by injuries, a number of which she sustained after withdrawing from the Nike Oregon Project and once I was no longer coaching her. And I am even sorrier that she remembers her time with the Nike Oregon Project with such unhappiness. While it saddens me that she has chosen to vilify me and to mischaracterize my actions and intentions in this way, I wish her only the best.
We did not hear back from Darren Treasure.
