Episode Details

#382: Gracie Gold became a two-time U.S. national champion, a six-time Grand Prix medalist, and in 2014 she made history as the first American woman to win the NHK Trophy in the sport of figure skating. That same year, she stood on the 2014 Olympic podium in Sochi as part of Team USA in the team event and placed 4th in the individual event, close to a medal of her own. At her peak, she held the record for the highest short program score ever recorded by an American woman.

But behind the sparkle and the scores, something was quietly unraveling. Gracie has been open about her struggles with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder: battles that were happening largely out of public view, even as she was competing at the highest level in the world. In 2017, she stepped away from the sport entirely to get help, one of the bravest decisions an athlete can make.

What followed was a long, honest road back — not just to skating, but to herself. She's since become a vocal advocate for athletes in the mental health space, and recently released a memoir called Outofshapeworthlessloser — a title that tells you everything about where she's been and how far she's come. Today, Gracie isn't just a former champion. She's someone who has done the real work, and isn't afraid to talk about it.

Content note: The topic of body image struggles and eating disorder are discussed in this episode.

What you will learn:

• The reality behind preparing for the Olympics in figure skating
• Navigating body image and an eating disorder
• How Gracie handled mental toughness and pressure in competition
• Removing self-worth from achievement
• Why it's better to listen to yourself, regardless of others' opinions
• Being OK with criticism, whether online or in your circle

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