OutofShapeWorthlessLoser: Gracie Gold

[moonvine]

Thanks for this recommendation. I was considering whether to go audio or print - swaying me to audio. Sadly, nothing about the events or her experiences is likely to suprise me as this is all too common across skating. And, we so quickly villainize (is that a word LOL?) guys, yet many of them experience much of the same in this sport. What saddens me is that only those who have medalled at major events really get to tell their stories - if others do, especially if they have left the sport / stopped competing, they are simply brushed aside as those who weren't "good enough" to "make it." I wish I had the magic prescription to change this, but I don't.

I went audio because I love her voice. I’ll be getting a Kindle for easy reference and, with permission/invitation going to the Road 2 Gold event in my area and getting a signed hard copy. I don’t read my signed books, they are carefully stored away. Take my money, Gracie

 

[moonvine]

TSL just reviewed the book. I thought that they provided a fair, balanced discussion of the sensitive topics that were featured in the book.

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Anyone feel like a synopsis for those of us who refuse to listen to TSL?

 

[moonvine]

You can listen to a sample here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/715821/outofshapeworthlessloser-by-gracie-gold/

 

[moonvine]

I knew I was forgetting something important. She loves coaching adult skaters, and has a skater who is 77 and LOVES to compete. Gracie says she could learn something from him!

 

[yelyoh]

Just ordered it; will get it Monday. Thanks Moonvine for all the info. Cannot wait....

 

[moonvine]

Amazon is currently offering a $1.40 credit for purchasing the autobiography (Kindle edition)

 

[CoyoteChris]

I dont post much but this is a must read....Frozen Teardrop by Lucinda Ruh was hard to read...but not as hard as Jon Jackson's On Edge , which documents how sophisticated cheating in skating came to be....but I expect this one will be harder. I am into history and am now reading terrible things that happened in Korean et al 20th century History, and they hurt....but this one is gonna hurt in a personal way. One of the reasons I dont hit many events anymore is I hate listening to "serious" fans bully skaters...some of which were my friends....they are not now. Great evil happens when good people do nothing. Good for Gracie for Speaking out. I will buy a used copy and let it sit for awhile.. I have lots of books like that...books that are hard to read...but must be read. I have friends who were and are directly involved in some of the history I have read...some of which is beyond belief....but true never the less. I believe what Gracie says....I wish her peace and love.

 

[TallyT]

I dont post much but this is a must read....Frozen Teardrop by Lucinda Ruh was hard to read...but not as hard as Jon Jackson's On Edge , which documents how sophisticated cheating in skating came to be....but I expect this one will be harder. I am into history and am now reading terrible things that happened in Korean et al 20th century History, and they hurt....but this one is gonna hurt in a personal way. One of the reasons I dont hit many events anymore is I hate listening to "serious" fans bully skaters...some of which were my friends....they are not now. Great evil happens when good people do nothing. Good for Gracie for Speaking out. I will buy a used copy and let it sit for awhile.. I have lots of books like that...books that are hard to read...but must be read. I have friends who were and are directly involved in some of the history I have read...some of which is beyond belief....but true never the less. I believe what Gracie says....I wish her peace and love.

Be fair, from what I have read a hell of a lot of the bullying was not so much from fans but officialdom - both US and international - coaching staff and other skaters.

 

[Skater Boy]

Certainly salacious, intrigue and right or wrong made her look like the hero/victim. But I do wonder to be balanced if her family's wealth before her dad losing his career helped her. She was naturally talented at skating, beautiful and had money for gorgeous costumes and training versus say now where you can clearly see the money is no longer there from the choreography to the dresses. Interesting reading and the fact she "names" or identifies people we know of course is interesting. Her battles, insignt into famous coaches and skaters. One thing I would like to know - is her competitive days over? Can she move on? Are skating shows a possiblity - though with SOI cancelled this year it is not a good sign. She has a lot of loyal fans. I miss her earlier days when she had such power and amazing jumps. I thought she would be the next OGM. I hope she can find peace and happiness wherever she lands excuse the pun. I also wonder, and I can't tell for sure, if she can live away from the lights and being the centre of attention. Can she find joy in life.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

I'm just about to finish reading Kiira Korpi's autobiography and Gracie's is next on my list. Already I'm delighted to find out that she is such a lover of cats and devoted a whole chapter to her feline companion.

 

[yelyoh]

I'm just about to finish reading Kiira Korpi's autobiography and Gracie's is next on my list. Already I'm delighted to find out that she is such a lover of cats and devoted a whole chapter to her feline companion.

Ditto on the cats.

 

[Spiralgraph]

I dont post much but this is a must read....Frozen Teardrop by Lucinda Ruh was hard to read...but not as hard as Jon Jackson's On Edge , which documents how sophisticated cheating in skating came to be....but I expect this one will be harder. I am into history and am now reading terrible things that happened in Korean et al 20th century History, and they hurt....but this one is gonna hurt in a personal way. One of the reasons I dont hit many events anymore is I hate listening to "serious" fans bully skaters...some of which were my friends....they are not now. Great evil happens when good people do nothing. Good for Gracie for Speaking out. I will buy a used copy and let it sit for awhile.. I have lots of books like that...books that are hard to read...but must be read. I have friends who were and are directly involved in some of the history I have read...some of which is beyond belief....but true never the less. I believe what Gracie says....I wish her peace and love.

I suspect that devoted fans of Gracie will have a very hard time reading it. I'm a fan of Gracie but I don't come near being an uber fan, and some of that was really tough. Much of what she writes applies to young women in general and being an elite athlete only worsened her difficulties and problems she's still working through..

 

[saine]

Anyone feel like a synopsis for those of us who refuse to listen to TSL?

I'm listening to it right now, they're very compassionate towards Gracie and liked the book and have a lot of praise for it. But it is hard for me to take them seriously when this week there were deleted tweets made from the TSL account that made a joke out of ED in Russian women skaters.

It gave them what they were looking for, but they don't see how they're perpetuating some of the issues discussed in my opinion.

 

[moonvine]

I'm listening to it right now, they're very compassionate towards Gracie and liked the book and have a lot of praise for it. But it is hard for me to take them seriously when this week there were deleted tweets made from the TSL account that made a joke out of ED in Russian women skaters.

It gave them what they were looking for, but they don't see how they're perpetuating some of the issues discussed in my opinion.

That’s one of many reasons I don’t listen to them. Thank you for the synopsis. He does say Gracie intends to compete. Apparently he gets a lot of dirt from kids at rinks who want to curry favor. Most of the time his info is correct, except when it’s wrong.

 

[noskates]

I'm about 3/4 of the way through the book. It IS very sad to read and you want to scream at her mother and father and her coaches - including the revered Frank Carroll. How could they not notice something was wrong. Was she that good of an actress? One thing to mention though is that Gracie appears to have always been fragile in many ways and figure skating just exacerbated her issues. It just goes to show that people see what they want to see. One thing that bears mentioning, I think, is her relationship with John Coughlin. That whole chapter was intriguing to me and Gracie does not take a side in John's issues - just talks about how close they were as friends, how he seemingly was the first person in her life to realize she was struggling and to try and help her and how much she loved him. I hope other young women can read this book and take courage from the fact that it's okay, and necessary, to admit you're having problems and seek help to resolve them.

 

[el henry]

I found the TSL review to be well done and I'm glad @Dr. Jenn recommended it.

It's easy to rag on Dave L., (the list of mean girl witchy quotes over the years is endless, "keeping it real" my aunt Fanny) and I usually avoid giving them clicks, but this was interesting.

I really liked Jonathan's comments and found that he was given room to talk here, rather than when Dave overruns him. I especially liked the comparison of the opera world to the skating world.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Be fair, from what I have read a hell of a lot of the bullying was not so much from fans but officialdom - both US and international - coaching staff and other skaters.

You speak truth. Ask Rudy Galindo....And of course Lucinda Ruh documents some of this bullying and I have seen certain coaches in real time bully skaters. I saw duing a recent comp a former major female skater turned coach sit as far away as possibe from her student in the K and C and not even look at her, scowling all the time. Then there are the bribed and blackmailed officials who bully skaters....even whole federations/associations. I am at the point where I still love the artistry...and the skaters...and I feel for them. But I am unwilling to support a sport that lets a convicted doper treat children or a convicted cheating judge continue.

 

[CoyoteChris]

I'm listening to it right now, they're very compassionate towards Gracie and liked the book and have a lot of praise for it. But it is hard for me to take them seriously when this week there were deleted tweets made from the TSL account that made a joke out of ED in Russian women skaters.

It gave them what they were looking for, but they don't see how they're perpetuating some of the issues discussed in my opinion.

Just for the record, I am not a big fan of listening to TSL. I do read their posts. And I do call them out on certain things. I never really paid attention to them until they went into detail on how Yuna was cheated out of her second OGmedal. It connected the dots from Jon Jackson's book on the Salt LAKE City disaster to Yuna and today.

 

[skylark]

On the question of"was Gracie that good of an actress?" ..... My answer is that when you've been taught to cover up your feelings since toddlerhood, you don't even know yourself what you're covering up, although you know what you're feeling and that you're suffering. Let's not forget that It was only when Ashley Wagner noticed that it was like "no one was there" and alerted USFS, that they took the step of helping Gracie get into rehab. I really appreciate Gracie's reveal tihat John Coughlin took initiative to help her privately, as a friend.
It was Jane Fonda's memoir that pointed out that she'd probably never know all her own feelings about her mother's suicide, because they're buried so deep within her. I'm glad Gracie's been committed to therapy (and fortunate to be able to afford it). I admire Gracie's commitment to helping others by sharing her story.

 

[saine]

Just for the record, I am not a big fan of listening to TSL. I do read their posts. And I do call them out on certain things. I never really paid attention to them until they went into detail on how Yuna was cheated out of her second OGmedal. It connected the dots from Jon Jackson's book on the Salt LAKE City disaster to Yuna and today.

TSL helped get me into figure skating thanks to the Youtube algorithm, so can't say I wasn't a fan of listening to them But not so much anymore. It is important to be critical of what they say and call them out. They can go over the line, or they may not know the whole truth of a situation at that point in time.