Paralympian contacts Nike to see if it was possible to buy one trainer

• Track and field Paralympian, 39, took to TikTok to share the exchange with Nike
• Read More: Stef Reid says she had doubts about ice skating on one leg 

Paralympian Stef Reid has called out Nike after she was unable to buy a single trainer rather than a pair, despite the sportswear giant using amputee mannequins in stores.

The British Canadian track and field athlete, 39, who lost her right foot in a boating accident at the age of 16 and was made an MBE in 2018 for services to Paralympic sport, took to TikTok to share a recent exchange she had with the company.

In the clip, which racked up over 3.4 million views, the world champion long jumper said: ‘If you use the image, you have to back it up in the way you do business.’

Stef started the video by saying: ‘Dear Nike, is it possible to buy just one shoe, because I only have one foot?

‘Two friends recently sent me photos of mannequins in Nike stores with running blades and I thought this was awesome! But then I asked Nike the obvious question.

Stef Reid revealed she contacted Nike to see if it was possible to buy one trainer after they started using amputee mannequins in stores- but they revealed they do not sell individual trainers for amputees

‘The answer was no, they offered a 10 percent discount which I said was very kind but next time I go running I am still only going to have one foot so it’s not really a solution.

‘They upped it to 15 percent which I declined and they then promised to take the issue to their higher ups. It’s been nine days and I still haven’t heard from Nike.

She continued: ‘However I did discover that other sports brands are also using blade runners to sell their shoes. So I asked them if they sold shoes as singles. Again the answer was no.

‘Now I love that companies are using amputee mannequins but if you are going to use the image you have to back it up in the way that you do business.’

Taking to the captions Stef hammered home her point, saying that while ‘inclusive’ looks good in marketing, the companies also need to put in the hard work.

The post read: ‘I love that companies are using amputee mannequins. I lost part of my right leg in an accident when I was 16. I know how special it would have been as a new amputee to see a big sports brand using that image.

‘But if you are going to use the image, you need to back it up in the way you do business.

‘Of course companies want to brand themselves as inclusive. The problem is feel good marketing without the hard work. It has to be supported by changes in policies and procedures across your business.

‘I’ve been contacted by three news outlets, so hopefully these questions are asked on a wider scale. In my experience, it’s rarely a case of intentional oversight. It’s just that no one has asked the question.’

Stef said her friends spotted amputee mannequins in some Nike stores, however they don’t sell shoes as singles

Stef said her friends spotted amputee mannequins in some Nike stores, however they don’t sell shoes as singles

The Paralympian shared screen grabs of the conversation she had online with a Nike employee

Many rushed to the comments agreeing with the Dancing on Ice star, with some pointing out even those with different sized feet would benefit from single shoe sales.

One person said: ‘Insane that they market it like they’re so inclusive and then they’re not!’

Another said: ‘A 50% discount is the only acceptable response lol. Still sell them as a pair if you must, but then give them half off!!!’

Someone else wrote: ‘Not too much to ask. Right? Otherwise it’s just corporate marketing and virtue signalling.’

A fourth wrote: ‘Realistically there are lots of people with different sized feet that would prefer to buy singles – so there’s more of a market than they think!’

A spokesperson for Nike said: ‘We thank Stef for sharing her concerns. At Nike, we stand for all athletes, and sponsor a number of Para athletes and Federations around the world and work with them across all forms of movement.

‘For several years, we have run the Nike One Shoe Bank program in the US. Nike has a select inventory of single shoes at our distribution centre in Memphis.

‘Consumers can reach out to Nike Customer Service to discuss their needs and will then be sent a shoe, free of charge, anywhere in the United States. Taking the learnings from the program, we are hoping to expand it to more geographies in the future.

‘Nike has also partnered with elite and everyday para-athletes for decades to help them with their performance through Nike product innovations – everything from specialized outsoles for blades, to gloves for athletes who use wheelchairs, to easy-on-and-off shoes, apparel and backpacks with one-finger pull zips and magnet closures.’

The track and field Paralympian, 39, who lost her right foot in a boating accident at the age of 16 and was made an MBE in 2018 for services to Paralympic sport, took to TikTok to share a recent exchange she had with the company

In the clip, which racked up over 3.4 million views, the world champion long jumper said: ‘If you use the image, you have to back it up in the way you do business’

Many rushed to the comments agreeing with the Dancing on Ice star, with some pointing out even those with different sized feet would benefit from single shoe sales

Stef lost her right foot in a boating accident at the age of 16 – and her life was saved by a surgeon in Toronto who amputated her right leg below the knee.

Her life completely changed when she fell off a rubber ring while attached to a boat that was speeding around on a lake.

The Team GB athlete previously recalled the moment it happened while speaking to The Mirror, she said:  ‘Although I couldn’t see my injuries below the water, the propeller had caught me across my right leg, my glutes and lower back. I didn’t know it, but it had almost cut me in half.

‘What I did know was there was way too much blood. I had no feeling in my right foot and I thought I was going to die.’

In 2022, she shed light on her prosthetic skating leg and praised the ‘amazing’ technology when speaking to MailOnline.

Stef of Great Britain competed in the Women’s 100m – T44 heats on day 3 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium

Stef competed in the women’s T62 long jump final during the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo in 2020

Even previously swapping her running shoes for some ice skates when she joined 12 celebs taking part in the fourteenth series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice (picture: Stef and Andy Buchanan Dancing On Ice TV show in 2022)

Opening up, she said: ‘It’s been amazing. I’m so fortunate that my whole life, I have had access and funds… prosthetic technology is amazing.

‘I mean, I have woken up every day and always felt like I could do anything I wanted to do because I have legs to do it. I have a walking leg, a running leg, a high-heel leg, I have a skating leg. I know that’s not everyone’s scenario around the world. That, I feel really grateful for.’

Stef has gone on to have an extremely successful career as an athlete. She competed for Canada in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 200 metres.

In 2010 she started representing Great Britain and at the 2012 Games she won three silver medals in the sprint and mid-distance events.

Even previously swapping her running shoes for some ice skates when she joined 12 celebs taking part in the fourteenth series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice.

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