Amazing Gracie Gold article in NYT

[andromache]

I hope this doesn't get buried because there's obviously a LOT going on in skating right now. This is a feature-length article all about Gracie and it gets into a lot of the details and questions that many of us have had. It's an important article even if you aren't a Gracie fan.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/sports/gracie-gold-figure-skating-.html

TW: suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, depression

Highlights:

Details regarding her specific disordered eating habits (basically every kind there is), including specific behaviors and a better timeline of when her issues started (pre-Sochi, after a regular weigh-in at the rink).

She competed at Rostelecom AGAINST her coach's recommendation

Gold was seen as someone who could reverse America’s fortunes, a personality in the mold of Kelly, the Hollywood star turned royal princess. Gold never saw herself that way, but the comparison sounded compelling, and soon she was reflecting back what others saw, describing Kelly in interviews as her style icon.

“I almost created this other person,” Gold said, adding: “I wanted to be the most flawless, angelic, plastic, Barbie-doll-face human who just says all the right things and does all the right things and is sterling. And people just don’t like her because she’s so perfect.”

Ashley is the one who first noticed Gracie's mental health struggles and alerted USFS.

This one SHOCKED me - USFS paid for her inpatient treatment for her eating disorder. Thank god they did something and took some responsibility, honestly.

Last spring, she moved to the Philadelphia area for a fresh start with a new coach, Vincent Restencourt, who earned her trust by insisting that she gradually reverse her weight gain. He insists on dining with Gold at least once a week, and at their first meal together he coaxed her into eating at least half a hamburger, emphasizing that she should not starve herself back into shape.

Since June, Gold has lost more than 30 pounds, the result of a healthier combination of foods, she said, not any fad diet.

Honestly I wanted to cry reading this.

 

[Gullygirl84]

I was just about to post that the article made me cry too....well, I'm glad that Gracie didn't go to nationals in Detroit of all places, if she had such bad memories of the place and her time there that she recently changed her flight plans in order to avoid having to fly through there.

 

[DanseMacabre]

It's a really great article but definite TW for people dealing with or recovering from EDs. Some of the behaviours listed can tickle that part of your brain that's like "Hmm, I could do that" despite them being unambiguously described as harmful and destructive.

It's very illuminating about her struggle and definitely worth a read. Thanks for sharing. Also, here's the link if anyone needs it.

 

[satine]

I am relieved to see that the weight loss has been a steady thing since June. That much weight lost in around 7-8 months sounds like it is being achieved healthily (or at least one can hope). I'm also tickled to see that Gracie is getting a real platform to speak about her struggles- it is good for others to hear her and good for herself to open up

 

[andromache]

It's a really great article but definite TW for people dealing with or recovering from EDs. Some of the behaviours listed can tickle that part of your brain that's like "Hmm, I could do that" despite them being unambiguously described as harmful and destructive.

It's very illuminating about her struggle and definitely worth a read. Thanks for sharing. Also, here's the link if anyone needs it.

I could've sworn that I added the link in! Thanks, I edited it in, as well as the trigger warnings. I assumed they were self-evident, but I should not have.

 

[bobbob]

Last spring, she moved to the Philadelphia area for a fresh start with a new coach, Vincent Restencourt, who earned her trust by insisting that she gradually reverse her weight gain. He insists on dining with Gold at least once a week, and at their first meal together he coaxed her into eating at least half a hamburger, emphasizing that she should not starve herself back into shape.

Since June, Gold has lost more than 30 pounds, the result of a healthier combination of foods, she said, not any fad diet.

And people were criticizing him for saying she lost 35 pounds...

Great article.

 

[gravy]

Thanks for mentioning this article @andromache.

I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions re: Vincent but I'm still not a fan of parading weight loss on social media for someone so emotionally fragile.

This was a really touching article and so relatable coming from someone who has struggled with addiction and depression in the past. I don't know if we'll ever see her in competition again but I'm rooting for her. When Gracie first spoke out about someone at Champs Camp helping her out I immediately thought of Ashley. Nice to confirm it was her who helped out. Interesting that both are now struggling with the same thing. Wish the best for Gracie (and Ashley).

 

[el henry]

And people were criticizing him for saying she lost 35 pounds...

Great article.

This. (ETA: the mention of weight loss in the NYT article, not copied here) is hardly the most important paragraph in this long, complex and well done article.

Mentioning weight in a three line tweet (later edited out) as Coach Vincent did, not a great idea:disapp:. This article instead unambiguously demonstrates the danger of focusing on weight as the sole signifier for health or for skating success, and mentions weight loss only in passing and as a result of healthy strategies. Much different

ETA: although I don't find it shocking at all that USFS would pay for treatment, but that's me Good for them!:agree:

It was indeed a good read

 

[cruzceleste]

There is a lot of heart breaking material in that article, Gracie´s solitude and depression, but how people around her (look people Wagner was the one that helped her) and USFS attiude here is great.

I hope Gracie finds her way to a place where she is happy in the future, as long as she is healthy I don´t care if this is on or off the ice.

Thank you for the article.

 

[moonvine]

She’s so wonderful. Glad she’s not here having seen this. She will be competing when she’s ready.

 

[magictodo]

Just want to wish Gracie all the best and am very happy she is making choices that are in her best interests (like not rushing to compete in Nationals in a place that haunts her). Also, I love that Ashley tried to help and that our skaters are looking out for each other. We need to do more as a skating community to look out for each other and lift each other up!

 

[halulupu]

great article. its is so sad and yet full of hope.

 

[twirlingblades]

Just want to wish Gracie all the best and am very happy she is making choices that are in her best interests (like not rushing to compete in Nationals in a place that haunts her). Also, I love that Ashley tried to help and that our skaters are looking out for each other. We need to do more as a skating community to look out for each other and lift each other up!

I am always angry at the media (and USFS to an extension) for pitting skaters against each other (Gracie vs Ashley, for example). I get that rivalries are a thing in sports, but still. I’m glad that Ashley said something.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Ashley is really great. Helping Gracie and alerting USFS as soon as she saw Gracie's problems is really amazing and supportive.

Gracie is so strong and hearing how her coach helps her get through this made me tear up. Getting over an ED is not easy. It is a long process and I admire Gracie for being so strong and training and working so hard on herself and to come back as a stronger person and skater.

 

[louisa05]

I feel like this is a cautionary tale about over-hyping young skaters. Those expectations can weigh on them in an unhealthy way.

I wish this would make the fans and media turn the volume down on Alysa Liu. But I know it won't.

 

[bytheriver]

I feel like this is a cautionary tale about over-hyping young skaters. Those expectations can weigh on them in an unhealthy way.

I wish this would make the fans and media turn the volume down on Alysa Liu. But I know it won't.

Yep. And people say that “she seems strong, she seems like she has a good head on her shoulders” as a compliment to Alysa as if 1) appearances can’t be deceiving or 2) past skaters suffering from pressure and poor hype management are just headcases who couldn’t handle the heat.

Image and performance based sports like gymnastics and figure skating can be so toxic, especially when people are desperate to crown the next savior. Good on Gracie for speaking out about it, and I hope she continues to have a positive outlook on herself and the sport, regardless of results and medals.

 

[satine]

^^^^THANK YOU!

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "they have a good head on their shoulders" or rolled my eyes at "wow they seem so mature for their age!". Not to take away from any athlete, but if you are a minor in the public eye, it is very, very likely that you have been rehearsed or coached in what to say regarding interviews. Or like they haven't been asked the question 20x and know the best way to respond by now. It's so obvious sometimes!

 

[oly2018]

I read this on my way home from work and shed a few tears. I was especially moved by her story about Ashley. The US media always tried to put them against each other, but when Gracie needed someone to advocate for her, Ashley stepped up. That's brave. It can be hard to go around a friend to help them because you never know how they are going to react. This article was so raw and it took me a bit of time to process, but I was really shocked to hear about Gracie's life long issue with trying to be perfect. It is a cautionary tale. Professional sports demand athletes to be perfect, when truly, no such thing exists. I can't imagine how hard that is to deal with when you are already a perfectionist by nature. I am so glad to hear that USFS helped her get the help she needed. This is a novel, but I really hope Gracie find her love for skating again. I don't care if it is in competition or elsewhere, but I hope she finds peace in it again.

 

[apgold]

So happy that Gracie is speaking out about her mental illness and recovery process. I hope this helps others with similar issues.

I never felt that her princess image was authentic and I had a hard time enjoying her skating. I'm excited to see the real Gracie emerge in her programs and interviews in the future.

And kudos to Ashley for reaching out to her. Ashley also dealt with depression following Nationals last year, so it clearly is an issue among elite skaters.

 

[skatenewbie]

this made me cry, its really hard to fought with mental illness and being a psychological student i feel that. great that she's better now, hopefully she can comeback strong next season .