Nike admits pregnant athletes faced performance-related pay cut
NIKE have admitted pregnant athletes previously faced performance-related pay cuts. US runners Alysia Montano, Phoebe Wright and Kara Goucher accused the brand’s sponsorship deals of discrimination. A number of athletes hit out at Nike’s treatment of pregnant athletes during a video recorded for the New York Times. Montano is renowned for competing in the 2014 […]
NIKE have admitted pregnant athletes previously faced performance-related pay cuts.
US runners Alysia Montano, Phoebe Wright and Kara Goucher accused the brand’s sponsorship deals of discrimination.
A number of athletes hit out at Nike’s treatment of pregnant athletes during a video recorded for the New York Times.
Montano is renowned for competing in the 2014 United States Championships while eight months pregnant.
The 33-year-old claimed she was forced to train with a brace around her stomach and had to ship breast milk in from China.
Groucher, 40, revealed she had to chose between staying with her ill son or training for a half marathon that had she had been forced to enter just three months after giving birth.
She said: “I felt like I had to leave him in the hospital, just to get out there and run, instead of being with him like normal mum would.
“I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Wright, 30, added: “Getting pregnant is the kiss of death for a female athlete. There’s no way I’d tell Nike if I were pregnant.”
In response, Nike claimed it was “common practice in our industry” that “agreements do include performance-based payment reductions.
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“Historically, a few female athletes had performance-based reductions applied.
“We recognised that there was an inconsistency in our approach across different sports.
“In 2018 we standardised our approach across all sports so that no female athlete is penalised financially for pregnancy.”
