[Mary Cain] Nowhere Else to Turn

Content warning: bullying, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, systemic abuse, systemic betrayal, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

Mary Cain is an author, athlete, and non-profit board member that was once hailed as one of the greatest young running talents in the world. But behind her success was a much more complicated story involving the pressures of elite competition, her experience inside the Nike Oregon Project, and the challenges she faced as she tried to find her voice. In the years that followed, and through civil legal accountability, Mary transformed from an athlete into an author and advocate examining the culture of sports and the treatment of young athletes. In this episode, Mary reflects on her journey, the highs and lows of her running career, and all that came next in this new chapter beyond the track. The Broken Cycle Media team is extremely grateful for Mary’s advocacy, energy, and willingness to share with our community.

Follow & Support Mary:
- Mary's Instagram: http:www.instagram.com/runmarycain
- Mary's Book, This is Not About Running: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/this-is-not-about-running-mary-cain?variant=43897601589282
- The Athlete Survivors' Assist: https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/

Sources:

Associated Press. “Track Coach Alberto Salazar Gets Four-Year Doping Ban.” Sports Illustrated, 1 Oct. 2019, https://www.si.com/olympics/2019/10/01/track-coach-alberto-salazar-gets-four-year-doping-ban

Cain, Mary. “I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike.” The New York Times, Opinion Video, 7 Nov. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000006788354/nike-running-mary-cain.html

Epstein, David. “World’s Most Famous Track Coach Is Banned for 4 Years for Doping Violations.” ProPublica, 1 Oct. 2019, https://www.propublica.org/article/alberto-salazar-worlds-most-famous-track-coach-is-banned-for-4-years-for-doping-violations

Maese, Rick, and Adam Kilgore. “Alberto Salazar, Track Coach Who Trained Olympians, Banned 4 Years by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.” The New York Times, 30 Sept. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/sports/alberto-salazar-doping-ban.html
For a list of additional resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources

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