Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2020 19:04:29 GMT
Olympic Bronze Medalist and Two Time U.S. National Champion Gracie Gold was in Watertown Saturday and spoke to over 100 people who attended the event at the Watertown Event Center. Gold spoke about her career and the challenges she has faced over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy road. Gold spoke about having to withdraw from competitions due to personal struggles with an eating disorder, anxiety and depression. She said that her career was on an uphill climb but the pressures she felt to maintain perfection continued to build and eventually led to a snowstorm affect that caused her to hit rock bottom in 2017. Gracie said she became so focused on her eating habits and appearance that it led to obsessive behaviors….
Gold said that as the pressures continued to build she realized she needed to get some help and it was as that time she stopped skating…..
After going through mental health treatment to deal with the eating disorder, depression and anxiety, Gracie began got back on the ice to see if she could do it all over again….
During the presentation Gold encouraged the young adults in the audience to not become so focused on the small things but rather take steps to become better overall athletes and perform at levels they are comfortable with while always doing the best job they can. Gold is now back on the road in an attempt to secure a spot in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The event was sponsored by the Watertown Community Foundation and hosted by the Watertown Figure Skating Club.