Nike Accepts Defeat Over $20 Million Lawsuit Filed by Long Distance Runner Mary Cain

It was the year 2019, when in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, Nike pioneered ‘Super Spikes’ to give a better sprint hold to its sponsored track and field icons. And, the idea indeed gained a hoard full of regard from across the globe. However, in the same year, the shoe-wear brand became a subject of scrutiny after long-distance runner Mary Cain voiced her silence on the parley she has been dealing with, which also included Nike in the play.

In the wake of this, in 2021, Cain filed a lawsuit against the conjectures that came to the surface and affected her physical and cognitive well-being. Nevertheless, after 2 years of constant legal battles, Nike finally came to terms with the sprinter and settled the lawsuit.

The 2021 lawsuit against Nike reached its conclusion 

In 2021, shortly after Allyson Felix expressed her disregard for the shoe-wear brand by calling them “beyond disrespectful and tone-deaf”, Cain also joined forces with the sprinting icon to voice her disappointment regarding her coach Alberto Salazar and Nike alleging that she suffered years of emotional abuse.

Cain stated, “I joined Nike because I wanted to be the best female athlete ever. Instead, I was emotionally and physically abused by a system designed by Alberto and endorsed by Nike.” Following this, in 2021, Cain filed $20 million lawsuit against Salazar and Nike, citing that she became a subject of constant body shaming comments from her coach and Nike didn’t take a stand to protect her.

Nonetheless, as per the report of Oregon Live, on 27th November, the lawsuit finally reached its conclusion, as Nike agreed to resolve the battle by coming to a common ground with Cain. Though the terms of the settlement remain disclosed, this marked the end of Nike’s highest-profile legal battles. 

The feud started with Nike’s elite Oregon project

The 2014 Junior World Championship winner, Mary Cain participated in Nike’s elite Oregon project, the nooks and crannies of which were guided by coach Alberto Salazar from 2013 to 2016.

However, the complaint filed by Cain in 2021 stated that Salazar publicly berated her about her weight even after she won the 3,000 meters junior world championship in 2014.

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Though Salazar and Nike denied the allegations, Nike’s elite Oregon project was disbanded in 2019 and Salazar was permanently banned from coaching US track and field athletes in the wake of a doping scandal.

And, now, after two years of legal battle, Nike has come to terms with Cain and resolved the lawsuit filed by the former long-distance runner.

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