A Paralympian has criticised Nike for using amputee mannequins to promote its products when it doesn’t sell single trainers.
Stef Reid, a single-leg amputee, told BBC Newsbeat she was only able to buy the company’s running shoes in pairs.
She said companies that portray “an image of diversity and inclusion” should back it with action.
Newsbeat said Nike thanked her for raising the issue and said it was “exploring opportunities”.
It added that it hoped to learn from its One Shoe Bank programme. The scheme provides single-leg amputees with one free trainer each year free of charge but it is only available in the US.
Stef, who has competed at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, lost part of her right leg in an accident when she was a teenager.
Newsbeat reported she spotted a pair of Nike trainers in one of the brand’s own stores but said she was told she had to buy both shoes. After she explained her situation she was offered “a one-time discount”.
She said: “I’m still only going to have one foot, so this isn’t a solution. And it’s bigger than me. This isn’t just about me.”
Newsbeat also spoke to British Paralympic athlete Sophie Kamlish who told them “companies should do more”.
She said: “Nike are using the image of inclusion, which is really cool. You wouldn’t have seen that a few years ago, but they’re not being as helpful when it comes to buying one shoe.
“It’s irritating and annoying because I’ve got these perfectly good shoes just hanging around my house that I have to throw in the bin, or not use at all.”
Sophie told Newsbeat she’s “been very lucky” to find a shoe-swap partner with someone who had an opposite side amputation. But she added: “It’s quite a rarity to be able to find that sole-mate.”
