In the truest form of the word, Gracie Gold is a champion.
A two-time U.S. gold medalist and Olympic team bronze medalist in figure skating, one of America’s most popular athletes now champions mental health awareness.
Among the stars of the 2014 Olympics, Gracie appeared in national campaigns for Nike, United Airlines, P&G, Smucker’s, Pandora and more. Although she finished just off the Olympic podium in her Olympic debut, the future was bright for this talented athlete.
Gracie surprised skating fans at the beginning of the 2017-18 Olympic season, announcing in a press release that she was stepping away from the sport to seek treatment for anxiety, depression and an eating disorder. She was among the first high-profile athletes to publicly address mental health issues.
After working through months of inpatient treatment, Gracie bravely shared her story through national media to bring attention to athlete mental health and help remove the stigma often associated with it.
Today, Gracie, 26, is back on the competitive ice, training in a way that is both healthy for her mind and body. In the past, she routinely received an automatic bid for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships but now earns her spot through qualifying competitions.
Gracie’s return to the U.S. Championships in 2020 was greeted with fans giving her a standing ovation and fellow athletes and coaches wiping
away tears. An inspiration to so many, she is currently training to earn her spot in January’s 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
