Coaches need to stop compromising athlete’s bodies

Mary Cain is doing one of the bravest things any female athlete can do: stand up an abusive coach. All around us are horror stories of young girls quitting sports after their coaches continually belittle and overwork these girls, and Cain is telling every one of those coaches it is time to take a step off the field.

After Cain became a record-breaking queen at the age of 17, she joined forces with Alberto Salazar at his Nike Oregon Project in 2012.

Cain is now 23 and is finally finding the words to tell her heart-breaking story.

In her video that was put out by the New York Times, Cain tells the dark stories of losing race after race and Salazar blaming her weight immediately after she finishes running. The low weight she was attempting to attain lowered estrogen levels as well breaking five bones.

Aside from physically being ill, Cain reported suicidal thoughts and even began self-harming. She told the New York Times, no one at Nike “really did or said anything.” Cain left the project in 2015.

Although Salazar is now suspended for anti-doping regulations, and the Nike Project is shut down, that is not enough justice for these athletes, especially Cain.

I myself played happily through high school playing women's sports with no issues. Sure I was constantly told to lose weight, but it was not until I got to the collegiate level that I faced such ridicule from a coach I mentally could not play another minute on the court.

If we are going to give coaches like Salazar his own Nike community to train and tell women that they are losing races because they are not losing weight, it is time for new coaches. Coaches that bring in more people than just their friends to coach. Athletes should have nutritionists and sports psychologists just like Cain suggested in her video with the New York Times.

Athletes like Cain know what they need. Maybe it is time we start listening to them before we lose any more athletes to neglectful coaches like Salazar.

We need to keep women in sports at all costs. Playing sports at a young age teaches so many skills for young women, but it is impossible to compete when you are constantly being ridiculed.

I urge young athletes to not hesitate to take the step that Cain did. It is disgusting that we let anyone talk about our bodies the way that coaches do. Yes, it is a bumpy road for you, but the sport itself and your physical and mental helath are much more imporant than what some stupid coach says.

A coach should have no say over anything other what is on the track. If a coach is treating you this way, it is time to move on and find a different team to play on. Cain shows us that this is possible; you can get out of this horrifying situation with a coach, and you can still have the chance to be successful. The only thing holding you back from a positive version of the sport you love is yourself.