DeepSummary
In this episode of the She Leads podcast, host Carlea Milatzky interviews American figure skater Gracie Gold, who shares her journey from childhood to becoming an Olympic bronze medalist, a six-time Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. Gracie recounts her spirited personality as a child and her introduction to figure skating, which she quickly developed a passion for.
The conversation delves into the pressures and subjectivity of figure skating, particularly the emphasis on body image and the challenges Gracie faced with disordered eating and mental health issues. Gracie opens up about her struggles with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder, which led her to step away from the ice in 2017 to seek help.
Gracie discusses the importance of creating a safe space for athletes to share their mental health experiences and the need for more research and support for athletes recovering from eating disorders. She also shares her insights on quieting the inner critic and finding stability in her life beyond skating.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Figure skating puts immense pressure on athletes, particularly regarding body image and appearance, which can contribute to disordered eating and mental health issues.
- Creating a safe and supportive environment for athletes to share their mental health struggles is crucial for providing the necessary help and resources.
- Recovery from eating disorders and mental health issues is an ongoing process that requires more research and support, especially for athletes aiming to return to their sport.
- Separating self-worth from performance and appearance is essential for athletes to maintain a healthy perspective and prevent harmful mindsets.
- Quieting the inner critic and finding balance in life outside of one's sport or profession can lead to greater stability and well-being.
- Memoirs and sharing personal stories can be a cathartic and validating experience, allowing individuals to reflect on their journey and connect with others.
- Passion, determination, and a willingness to pursue one's dreams can overcome significant obstacles and challenges.
- Maintaining strong relationships and support systems, such as with family or close friends, can provide emotional regulation and stability during difficult times.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I had a lot of opinions and I shared them freely. I had difficulty with authority, and I didn't understand social nuances probably until my teens, like later teens, I just said whatever came into my head, but I was fearless and extremely loyal and stubborn and a lot of these things that made me really high functioning but could also make me really difficult.“ by Gracie Gold
- “For the most part, though, overall, it was healing and in a lot of ways validating not all parts, but I would say for the most part, yeah.“ by Gracie Gold
- “I think being clear about, is this a performance based critique or. Or is this an aesthetic? Like, in my opinion, you don't look like a skater, or you don't look pretty enough because we're not thin enough, we're not wearing enough makeup, the dress, and some people in skating that I've had this conversation with feel like, well, if you can't hang or if you perceive that as rude, then this isn't the sport for you.“ by Gracie Gold
- “Yeah, they had asked something like, oh, how's the family doing? And I was like, I don't know. Like, we don't talk anymore. They're like, what? And I was like, oh, yeah. They're like, where's your dad? I'm like, I don't know. Like, he sucks. What do you want me to say? And I think that was just, like, jarring. And the fact that they actually seem to care in what I received, like, a truly genuine way, not like a, oh, no, I'm sorry to hear that. They also seemed just, like, genuinely shocked. And they had follow up questions.“ by Gracie Gold
Entities
Company
Person
Organization
Award
Book
Movie
Episode Information
She Leads
Carly Malatskey
5/29/24
Gracie is an American figure skater. She is a 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, a six-time Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion - both in 2014 and 2016.
In 2017, Gracie stepped away from the ice to seek help for her mental health around depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and an eating disorder. She recently returned to the ice and has become a passionate mental health advocate - leading her to be featured in Sports Illustrated, the Players Tribune, the NY Times, the HBO documentary, Weight of Gold, and countless other news sources.
Given her experience, she’s led countless mental health initiatives and was recognized with the 2022 Bell of Hope Award. She recently released her memoir "Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out…" - a book in which she provides the most authentic and deep look into her journey from growing up to where she is today - navigating the world of being in the public eye as an elite figure skater.
-----
Past guests include Margaret Wishingrad, Kara Goldin, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Ann Miura Ko, Linda Avey, Sarah Leary, Becky Sauerbrunn and many more.
Follow us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube
-----
Show Notes:
1. Welcome to She Leads
2. Gracie's Childhood and Upbringing
3. Gracie's Spirited Personality
4. Her introduction to Figure Skating
5. The Pressure and Subjectivity of Figure Skating
6. Finding Out She's an Olympian
7. The Pressure of Body Image in Figure Skating
8. Promoting a Healthier Body Image in Sports
9. Creating a Safe Space for Athletes - Mental Health
10. Quieting the Inner Critic
Please share She Leads with a friend and Leave a Review!