Lawsuit Alleges Teen Athlete Was Raped at Nike Elite Track Event in Oregon

The civil complaint, brought by the parents of the unnamed minor, targets both athletic footwear giant Nike and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation. Plaintiffs seek economic and non-economic damages, claiming the event organizers failed to provide reasonably safe conditions and neglected to protect participants in event-provided lodging. According to court filings, the case centers on a showcase that brought 40 high school track athletes—split evenly between 20 boys and 20 girls—to Nike headquarters.

Inside the Allegations and Hotel Room Timeline

The complaint outlines a sequence of events beginning on July 5, when participants gathered in a Beaverton hotel room around 10 p.m., according to reporting by OregonLive. After other attendees left, an unnamed male participant allegedly choked and violently raped the victim when she attempted to call for help. The lawsuit states that the assault left blood stains on the hotel bed and throughout the room.

Following the attack, plaintiffs allege that Nike and foundation staff encountered the crying athlete in a hotel hallway. According to the court filing, staff members required her to write an account of the encounter before either parent could review it, and urged her to characterize the incident as consensual. The victim subsequently received treatment at a local hospital.

The accused participant was expelled from the program and sent home, according to the lawsuit. However, the plaintiffs contend that organizers had prior knowledge of disciplinary concerns regarding the assailant and were already in the process of removing him from the program when the assault occurred. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that organizers failed to warn other athletes or their families about these risks.

Institutional Responses and Legal Posture

Legal representatives for both organizations have responded to the filing. George Goldberg, an attorney for the plaintiffs, described his clients as trusting participants in a system designed to foster elite athletic development. He told reporters that the family placed their faith in a program intended to launch an amazing life.

National Scholastic Athletics Foundation CEO Josh Rowe addressed the filing in an emailed statement cited by OregonLive, describing the allegations as serious. Rowe stated that his organization’s first concern is for the young woman and her family, while noting that the foundation disagrees with the version of events presented in the lawsuit. Rowe emphasized that the foundation has spent three decades bringing student-athletes together to compete and grow.

Nike declined to comment on the matter, adhering to corporate policy regarding active litigation. Meanwhile, the Beaverton Police Department confirmed that detectives are actively investigating the incident, though a department spokesperson noted that no formal criminal charges have been filed as the inquiry proceeds.