Rejected by Nike, Track and Field Legend Allyson Felix Comes to Rescue of Paralympian

Triple Paralympic medalist Stef Reid is a beacon of inspiration for many. And her undying spirit has propelled her through an impressive 18-year-long career. However, the Paralympian encountered disappointment recently when the mega-brand Nike failed to accommodate her special athletic footwear requirement. In March 2024, she had reached out to them asking to buy just one shoe given her other prosthetic leg. However, despite her claims that Nike stores from Seattle and London displayed Blade Runner mannequins, the brand declined her request by confirming they sell shoes only in ‘pairs.’

Naturally, this was a bummer for the 2017 World Champion. All she wanted was to witness her being ‘reflected in the running culture by a big brand.’ Nonetheless, a recent offer has made Reid believe that this is possible.

Shoe brand Saysh rekindles Stef Reid’s hopes

Stef Reid’s latest Instagram post is a quick video explaining the aftermath of the Nike no-go. Among all the responses garnered, she asserts the most monumental one is Allyson Felix‘ approaching her. In the caption, an awe-struck Reid further writes, “I couldn’t believe @allysonfelix messaged me immediately after watching my original reel.” As per Reid, she even recently “had a meeting with her team” and consequently, the 7x Olympic Champion Felix’s show brand Saysh “has introduced a new amputee shoe buying policy.”

Preceding this revelation, she even touches on how her asking a ‘fair question‘ to Nike went down a storm. People were empathetic and supported her demand. Some even surfaced their set of reasons for wanting to buy a single shoe. What’s more, Good Morning Britain invited Reid to their morning show.

While these are nothing short of historic feats for Reid, one can see that she’s only getting started. In the video, she mentions being in talks with two other brands and ‘sharing her thoughts’ with them. Therefore, another good news may be on the horizon. Moreover, she sounds extremely optimistic about the change she’s contributing towards. She remarks, “It’s hard and it takes more than just one viral post…but, it’s possible.” 

Therefore, Allyson Felix and Stef Reid joining hands to foster change is the fresh track and field headliner. But, this wouldn’t be the first time Felix’s name is flashing opposite the Nike franchise. The two have had a solid run in the past, one that got into a tangle merely a few years back.

The dispute with Nike and Allyson Felix’s rise against that

“By joining Nike…I could help empower women,” stated Allyson Felix in an open letter published by the New York Times. She met the company’s leaders in 2010 when a woman instilled the confidence in Felix that “Nike believed in women and girls” and she believed her. However, whilst recalling all this, via the same medium, Felix went on to call out her athletic partner.

Allyson commented that her pregnancy happened around the time she was reaching a new contract with Nike, who was her sponsor. At a crucial juncture in her life, she expected that during and after the birth of her child, the brand should support her, and she sought no pay cuts if her performance fluctuated. But, the 14-time world champion was dismayed when Nike offered her a 70% pay cut in the new contract.

With some of the top global athletes under its umbrella, Felix expected a brand like Nike to “secure these protections.” But when her hopes were dashed, she lashed out, “I’ve been one of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes. If I can’t secure maternity protections, who can?”

After this fallout, she parted ways with her sponsor in 2019 and signed up with Athleta. Later, in 2021, she launched her own footwear brand Saysh. Her brand even boasts a “Saysh Maternity Returns Policy” to acknowledge the transformative journey of motherhood. And now with the leg amputee policy, Allyson Felix’s Saysh is setting new benchmarks as an inclusive brand. And this is something that not only Stef Reid, but many will hail her for.