In a compelling op-ed, former Nike athlete Jenna Lane has come forward with serious allegations against the company and her former coaches, detailing a toxic training environment that prioritized weight over health. Lane, who used to be hailed as one of the fastest female runners in the U.S., abandoned her collegiate athletics to join the Nike Oregon Project, a long-distance running team under the guidance of coach Alberto Salazar. In her New York Times op-ed video, she reflects on her initial hopes of becoming the “greatest female athlete ever,” only to find herself trapped in a cycle of emotional and physical turmoil.
Upon joining the project, Lane was met by an all-male coaching staff that repeatedly emphasized the need for her to become “thinner and thinner.” Alarmingly, there were no certified nutritionists available to support her or her teammates throughout their rigorous training. Salazar insisted that she maintain a weight of 114 pounds, leading to devastating consequences; she lost her menstrual cycle for three years and suffered multiple injuries, including five broken bones. The overwhelming pressure to perform eventually led her to experience suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
“Girls’ bodies are being destroyed by an emotionally and physically abusive system,” Lane asserts. The absence of menstrual cycles indicates a lack of sufficient estrogen, which is crucial for maintaining healthy bones, explaining her repeated injuries. Fellow runner Tara Hughes, who also trained with Salazar until 2011, shares similar sentiments about the oppressive atmosphere. “When you’re in a program like this, you’re constantly reminded of how fortunate you are to be there, making it hard to leave. You start to question if compromising your health is part of the deal,” she explains.
This approach to training female athletes, expecting them to adhere to the same standards as their male counterparts, sends a damaging message that their health and mental well-being are secondary. No athlete should feel that suffering is a prerequisite for success. In response to the allegations, a Nike spokesperson acknowledged the company’s potential for improvement, stating, “We recognize Nike can do more, and there’s a vital opportunity for the sports industry to evolve in support of female athletes.”
Lane recounts that her coaches were aware of her struggles with self-harm, yet no one intervened. Her parents were devastated when they discovered the extent of her suffering and arranged for her immediate departure from the program. “They told me to get on that flight and leave,” she recalls. “I stopped aiming for the Olympics; my only goal was to survive.”
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In summary, Jenna Lane’s courageous op-ed sheds light on the damaging practices within elite sports environments, particularly for female athletes. Her story highlights the urgent need for systemic change to prioritize health and well-being over unrealistic performance standards.
Keyphrase: Nike athlete abuse
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