Emotional And Physical Abuse In Sport

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Mary Cain’s name is popping up in the news not matter what news outlet are you following. She's a professional middle distance runner from the US. Mary says she's been constantly pressured to lose weight by Alberto Salazar, the Oregon Project coach. I don't know what's happened as we only know what the press says but after reading that she once broke five bones because of osteoporosis, I believe there are serious problems here. At that young age osteoporosis is a very serious illness and can only occur if nutrition is not right or you have a serious illness that cause you osteoporosis.

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Athletes need proper diet in order to be able to perform on the field. They are usually eating more than others because they burn more calories compared to those who are not training on a regular bases. In these conditions to have osteoporosis means malnutrition, which is extremely bad.

Please note, I'm not a doctor nor have medical studies, this is my opinion based on what I have learned over the years.

Looks like she wasn't the only one who's been pressured to lose weight by Salazar. There were other athletes who backed up Mary. Nike will conduct an investigation to get to the bottom of this.

Salazar has already got four-year ban for anti-doping offenses.

Unfortunately this is happening in every sport I believe. There's been a case in Romanian gymnastics a few years ago. One of the retired gymnasts has published her autobiography in which she has accused the two trainers of emotional abuse and even physical abuse. I saw an interview with her teammates right after the book was published and they all said the allegations are unfunded. I don't know what she was after or what was her goal but nothing happened after she published the book.

Mary's case however is different. I don't know what's happened as I wasn't there but she's not the only one and her medical records can support what she's saying. Weight is always a problem in sport, that is obvious but repeatedly pressuring someone emotionally is not the way to get results. Athletes life is already full of pressure and at that young age any pressure can have serious consequences.

I truly hope someone is going to find the truth and stop abuse. I also think federations or whoever is responsible for athletes well being should pay more attention so cases like these don't happen anymore. Let's not forget what's happened in gymnastics and went on for years, destroying many gymnast's life for good.



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Alberto Salazar is a great coach. He coached many famous long-distance athletes, including Mo Farah and Galen Rupp.

Long-distance running is a sport for very skinny people. The golden rule of long-distance running was formulated by Belgium runner Emil Puttemance back in 1972. "The less you weigh in life the more you weigh in the race."

If Mary Cain isn't very skinny she should probably change the sport. Look at Almaz Ayana. She's but skin and bones.

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