Athletes need to be courageous to help change sport

23 February 2020: Blog by Jackie Areson, Australian / USA Long Distance Runner

This picture (finish line photo from Stanford 2012) is one of my best memories of my running career. One of those chill races that didn’t mean much at the time, but then again meant everything. The epitome of joy in this sport that sometimes seems too hard to obtain. To this day, I look at this photo remembering the elation of simply a fun race but yet there is still anger when I see the Oregon Project logo on my chest. This sport has taken more from me than it has given, and these days I err on the side of regret. Not because of the craziness of what I experienced in the Oregon Project, but from witnessing the larger issue of the systemic problems of power in sport and the lack of change despite speaking out.

It has been 7 years of dealing with the fact that I have to accept the problem is not solely in the coaches committing these atrocities, but in the athletes that turn a blind eye and are complicit. Those who have had even a single conversation with me know that I don’t hold back, on anything in life. I have spread the word about my experience in the NOP to all who were curious. Didit stop them from spending exorbitant amounts of money on NOP apparel and shoes? No. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. To those professionals that were warned and knew about what was happening and decided to join anyway: I am angry. You are the problem. What message does this send to all up and coming athletes? That in order to succeed, you must accept this as the status quo. Would Mary Cain have had to go through this if we all just said no, much sooner? 

I have always been a fan of Tianna Bartoletta as a fellow Lady Vol, but now she has gained so much more of my respect and admiration for being that “take no crap say it like it is” figure in our sport. Why can’t more of us be like this? As athletes in the public eye (some more so than others), why can’t we just be honest about our experiences, negative and positive. Why do people have agendas and conveniently leave out those stories that may not paint them in a positive light? Why can’t we be honest about our mistakes in this mess? So, here’s to the people keeping it real in this frenzy and here’s to hoping more people have the courage to be a part of the change.”