She was in the World Championships when she was 17. So she already made it to "World Class", unfortunately it went downhill from there.
That's true but the World wasn't as fast 10 years ago. I'm not sure her times back then would make the USA team anymore
I don't think that's how it works. Everyone is classified within the time frame they compete in. I don't think it's fair that some world record holder from 100 years ago sucks because they were the best at the time.
That's true but the World wasn't as fast 10 years ago. I'm not sure her times back then would make the USA team anymore
I don't think that's how it works. Everyone is classified within the time frame they compete in. I don't think it's fair that some world record holder from 100 years ago sucks because they were the best at the time.
Yeah but ppl are speculating on how good she would be today if she stayed healthy.
My question about the entire caIN, Salazar, nop thing is while she was going through all these issues where were the other females of the team/group? If this went on in front of the entire team why did not 1 of them step in to help her in some way? Yes what Alberto did was wrong but why do these other members of the team get a free pass? They should have helped her in some way and now should be called out about it
They were called out about it. Mary called them out in the clean sport collective podcast, and Shannon Rowbury in particular took a lot of heat.
The women on the team were not supportive of her, and looked down on her. It seemed like there was a very selfish and divided culture there. On the one hand, I think they could have done more. On the other hand, it was unhealthy in general for a teenage girl to be a part of this group, since it was an adult group and there was a certain maturity level that was expected. Not Mary's fault for being young. It just generally isn't a good idea for a teenager to turn pro while still in high school.
For the powerless, strength is defined by your ability to take it on the chin, to obey, to accept bulling put your nose down and work harder. See: USA women's gymnasts.
For the powerful, strength is defined by your ability to yell, scream, bully, demean and dole out orders. For example, that's why Trump was viewed as a tough guy even through he's quite fragile.
That's why when the powerless (athletes) speak up, it's seen as "weak and whiny". That's why we lament the end of "tough coaching" when really, abusive people are being held accountable.
The mary cain case REALLY touched a nerve...with certain men.
I am fascinated by this. Overwhelmingly the people who are dismissive, minimizing, and willing to cast Mary as a "whiner" are men. The people who are willing to roll their eyes and say things like "she couldn't handle tough coaching!" and "she was fat anyways" are men. Overwhelmingly the people who defend Alberto as simply a tough-guy coach instead of abusive...are men.
Most of the women I know in the sport strongly felt that the Mary Cain story resonated with them. That's why there was a mini "me too" movement in sports. Because women, not Mary Cain alone, but women, felt like they too were picked apart unnecessarily for their weight, and suffered as a result. They wanted a change.
This isn't a case of "girls can't handle tough coaching!" one can argue that what Mary Cain did was VERY tough and showed her strength just as you argue it showed her need to blame.
And in case anyone needs a refresher, here is a list of allegations against Salazar.
--Amy Yoder Begley said Salazar made her sign a document saying she won't be friends with her teammates
--Amy Yoder Begly was criticized, and called names for her weight frequently, especially her a**. Amy Yoder Begley, a grown adult came forward after the Cain allegations to note this happened.
--Mary Cain was given laxatives and birth control pills for which she did not have a prescription for to lose weight.
--Mary Cain was berated in front of an entire track meet for "gaining five pounds" because she had bacon and eggs for her pre-race meal. This isn't how you gain five pounds, btw so not accurate.
--Mary Cain was criticized for her weight even though she was performing well. Despite getting second to Jenny at USA's, she was forced to stay home and from competing because Alberto thought she was too heavy.
--There is 0 evidence that the 114 pound weight goal they set for Mary would be beneficial. Zero. Evidence. How's that for your favorite mad scientist coach?
--Alberto sexually abused an athlete, Larry Nassar style and has been found guilty of that too.
Yep. People do not have to like Mary Cain to recognize that shaming a female athlete at that age in an effort to coerce her to meet unrealistic and dangerous weight limits was horrendous coaching and coaching malpractice that set her up for chronic injuries. It was an attempt to reach short term goals at the expense of her overall welfare.
They were called out about it. Mary called them out in the clean sport collective podcast, and Shannon Rowbury in particular took a lot of heat.
The women on the team were not supportive of her, and looked down on her. It seemed like there was a very selfish and divided culture there. On the one hand, I think they could have done more. On the other hand, it was unhealthy in general for a teenage girl to be a part of this group, since it was an adult group and there was a certain maturity level that was expected. Not Mary's fault for being young. It just generally isn't a good idea for a teenager to turn pro while still in high school.
Or rather, Mary Cain selfishly went on national media to publicly claim she was fat shamed by Salazar only for the entirety of her claim to be rejected by the SafeSport arbitrator. Did you Kara or any of the other NOP go on national media to claim the spotlight when their cases were ongoing? Only Mary Cain selfishly did this to claim attention for herself and only her claim was rejected. Mary Cain made it all about herself when it was never about her and the lack of anyone from NOP says volumes.
Salazar usually gets his athletes to run to the best of their ability. Sometimes your level is just your level.
Im sure she could have been trained in a more optimal way, but world class was never going to be in the cards.
I disagree. Prior to going to Salazar, she was being remotely coached by him but had the NYAC athlete from Australia coaching her, John Henwood. She was doing great at that point and ran incredible times while not overworking in intervals. Salazar commented on how she was able to race far faster than her workout times, which were not impressive. He decided to make sure her workout times were impressive, and so she was overcooked and lost her love of the sport, if she ever had it, from the berating, pressure, and overwork. You have to be able to read your athletes better. You could tell that she was losing her love of the sport from the pressure already when she was skipping big meets for prom. With athletes like that, you really have to step back, let them be under-trained a bit, and keep the pressure down, the total opposite, in other words, of Salazar's M-O. She's not the only one who got eating disorders from his approach. It's not about the weight; it's about the attitudes toward the weight.