Famous Athletes Who Were Involved In Cults

Publish date: 2024-05-07

Cults are typically built around a set of religious beliefs, but athlete Mary Cain had a different experience. Cain, a World Junior Champion runner, joined the Oregon Project, a Nike training group run by Alberto Salazar, and came forward years later claiming the abuse she endured as part of that gave her suicidal thoughts.

As is typical in a cult, Salazar was highly revered, especially by Cain. As The New York Times reported, Cain said, "For many years, the only thing I wanted in the world was the approval of Alberto Salazar. I still loved him. Alberto was like a father to me, or even a god."

Another former Oregon Project athlete, Kara Goucher, had a similar experience while training, and said, "When you're training in a program like this, you're constantly reminded how lucky you are to be there, how anyone would want to be there, and it's this weird feeling of, 'Well, then, I can't leave it. Who am I without it?'"

In 2019, Nike shut down the Oregon Project, per The New York Times, shortly after Salazar received a four-year ban from the sport of distance running from the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Cain still runs today and is the CEO of the non-profit Atlanta NY, per her Instagram. In 2021, she filed a lawsuit against Nike and Salazar, seeking $20 million in damages for what she endured while training at the Oregon Project, reported Oregon Live.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) .

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