Figure Skater Gracie Gold Opens Up About Maintaining Mental Health While Hitting the Ice

Gracie Gold is taking a healthier approach to figure skating.

The 24-year-old Olympian, who won a Bronze medal in 2014, is opening up about her mental health journey after taking time off from the sport to receive treatment for eating disorder, depression and anxiety.

Over the past year, Gracie says she’s gotten back on the ice, lost 40 pounds and graduated from the jumping harness system that she at one point was using to safely execute jumps.

“I feel like in the sport of skating, comebacks don’t happen that much because to go through the process and some of the ridicule that comes with it at first is hard. You’re essentially being criticized by the judges, by the fans, by your coach and by yourself. That can be a lot,” Gracie told the NY Times.

She continued, “My goal is to maintain my mental health while making progress on the ice.”

While Gracie plans to take part in the 2020 United States national championships next month, her long term plans include opening a mental health wing at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

“I can always retire at any moment and go back to school or work full time,” Gracie explained, adding that skating “is not the end of the world like I used to kind of feel like it was.”