Gracie Gold's memoir published February 2024

[Sylvia]

Starting a thread for news and information about Gracie Gold's memoir that's scheduled to be published on February 6, 2024, according to Gracie's August 2nd IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvcmf4huO6i/

When I sat down to write my book, I wanted to offer an inside look into the high-pressure world of figure skating that’s been a second home to me since I was a kid.

What came is a culmination of so much healing for me—an introspective examination of my struggles with mental health, disordered eating, and a crushing drive for perfection—and ultimately, my fight to survive.

In introducing you to outofshapeworthlessloser, I share a side of myself that I haven’t shared before—because she's an integral part of my healing, because I hope she sparks conversation and positive change in the sport that I love, and because I hope she can provide guidance and a way forward for anyone struggling with similar issues.

Publisher's page (pre-order options here):

Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold: 9780593444061 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “piercing account” (The Wall Street Journal) of surviving as a young woman in a society that rewards appearances more than anything and demands perfection...

www.penguinrandomhouse.com

It's co-written with Karen Crouse (former New York Times sports journalist who first revealed the depth of Gracie's struggles in January 2019):

Gracie Gold’s Battle for Olympic Glory Ended in a Fight to Save Herself (Published 2019)

Gold appeared to be a gold medal favorite in figure skating for the 2018 Winter Games. Then her mental health unraveled, and a cry for help became her boldest move.

www.nytimes.com

Crouse's reply to Gracie on August 2 ("Your honesty in this book is going to help so many readers "): https://twitter.com/bykaren/status/1686832101059067910

 

[Sylvia]

Relevant excerpt from this July 27th article on the return of Gracie's "Road To Gold" camp to Vail, CO (originally posted by @moonvine in the U.S. Women's news thread):

Olympic medalist Gracie Gold and the Road to Gold ice skating camp returns to Vail

Road to Gold, featuring two-time U.S. champion Gracie Gold, is back in Vail for a five-day ice skating camp. The youth camp, tailored toward beginners through developing skaters testing out doubles and triples, began on...

www.vaildaily.com

Watching attendees treasure Gold’s transparency and genuine friendliness as she shares insights on battling through adversity and navigating the sport’s hyper-competitive environment is one of Frankhauser’s chief joys.
“Honestly the excitement you see in the skaters faces, especially when they see Gracie for the first time and they’re like, ‘oh my gosh, that’s Gracie Gold, I see her on TV,’ — it’s amazing,” she said. “And then, she’s so personable and warm and open with them. They feel like they really get to know her.”
Fankhauser said Gold, who is still competing, has plans to publish a memoir this winter. She’s excited to see how the 27-year-old weaves her personal, but universal, mental health takeaways into a narrative filled with some pretty serious athletic achievements. Fankhauser believes it will “be more than just a book about a figure skater.”
“Their goal is to not just write a book that figure skaters are going to buy because they love Gracie, but that other people might be interested in reading about (as well),” she said.

 

[FSWer]

I found it on Amazon. Can it least be ordered now?

 

[Sylvia]

I found it on Amazon. Can it least be ordered now?

Yes.

 

[FSWer]

Thanks.

 

[kosjenka]

I am reading it now and its very raw.

 

[kwanfan1818]

My Kindle pre-order was delivered yesterday.

 

[ptvvibezz]

Chapter 11 is where Gracie shares her experience with rape for those who might not want to listen to it

 

[kiss-n-cry]

My copy is out for delivery. Not sure I'm emotionally prepared to read it, but I want to support Gracie and try to fully understand her experience.

 

[Debbie S]

My copy should be here today, too.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I’m hoping people don’t post too much information from the book on social media before we can get through it. I don’t want to have to speed read.

 

[Rukia]

Got the shipping notice for mine! I can't wait to read it.

 

[Firedancer]

Mine is out for delivery. I can’t wait to read it

 

[oleada]

I’m on hold for the ebook on Libby! There’s 40+ people ahead of me so I might buy it.

 

[puglover]

The book is available on audible and is narrated by Gracie.

 

[tony]

The book is available on audible and is narrated by Gracie.

If you're a Prime member and don't subscribe to Audible, there's a good chance that they are running another free trial promotion which would include getting a credit that could be used on this book.

 

[Habs]

I picked up my copy at the bookstore yesterday. I can't wait to read it.

 

[B.Cooper]

Karen Crouse, former NYTimes contributor, if I am not mistaken, worked with Gracie on this project.
See Karen's Twitter / X bio

https://twitter.com/bykaren

Author "Norwich, One Tiny Vermont Town's Secret to Happiness and Excellence." Repped by [email protected]. Working with
@MichaelPhelps @GraceEGold"

 

[overedge]

Karen Crouse, former NYTimes contributor, if I am not mistaken, worked with Gracie on this project.
See Karen's Twitter / X bio

https://twitter.com/bykaren

Author "Norwich, One Tiny Vermont Town's Secret to Happiness and Excellence." Repped by [email protected]. Working with
@MichaelPhelps @GraceEGold"

I think @Sylvia mentioned that in the first post of the thread.

 

[Firedancer]

Gracie is doing an Instagram live tonight at 6 pm ET

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[kosjenka]

Chapter 17 is about John Coughlin.
Very surprising for me. I remember that a year before they become close and collaborate but they developed a close friendship. I wont post the most major thing about him as a spoiler.

 

[canbelto]

Spoiler: Russian skater spoiler

She mentions a recently-divorced Russian Olympic champion who hit on her. I think she's talking about Ilia Kulik, who divorced Katia in 2016.

 

[Lynn226]

Feeling jealous. My copy arrives tomorrow. What gives Amazon?! I pre-ordered. First world problems.

 

[Sparks]

Spoilers can be posted if they are under the spoiler tag

 

[kosjenka]

T

Spoiler: Dont read; Coughlin chapter details

Coughlin had early set Parkinsons. He had symptoms and had been seeing a specialists last year of his life when he spent tons of time with Gold and helped he get back in her feet after rehab. She said she was in love with him, they were soulmates, yet had no physical and sexual relationship. He left her a letter before he took his life. She included the letter in chapter 17.

 

[Frau Muller]

I will get mine in Puerto Rico through a package forwarder (Planet Express here). About two days to go.

 

[tony]

Read the whole thing pretty quick.

Spoiler: Russian skater spoiler

She mentions a recently-divorced Russian Olympic champion who hit on her. I think she's talking about Ilia Kulik, who divorced Katia in 2016.

Spoiler

Would certainly seem to be him. All of the clues were there. She mentions that he was In the LA area and that he would come to the rink just to pop off a few triples to show that he 'still could', which Kulik has highlighted on his social media a bit over the last few years. But it also mentions that Frank & her team got said person banned from showing up there. I think Gracie mentioned the extent of it was him making comments about her 'nice ass' or something.

Spoiler: Dont read; Coughlin chapter details

Coughlin had early set Parkinsons. He had symptoms and had been seeing a specialists last year of his life when he spent tons of time with Gold and helped he get back in her feet after rehab. She said she was in love with him, they were soulmates, yet had no physical and sexual relationship. He left her a letter before he took his life. She included the letter in chapter 17.

Spoiler

I think she does a great job at verbalizing the internal conflict that happens when these types of things come up, and it shows to everyone that a typical 'he/she's guilty!' response just isn't reasonable for many people. Even after she had gone through the same SafeSport procedures and knew what it felt like to be in this situation, she still had the conflict of trying to see one of her closest friends in a different light. He really did seem to go out of his way for her to help her get her love for the sport back while also gaining some financial stability.

Otherwise,

Spoiler

I found it interesting that she was told that Rudy Galindo had a successful career because he had essentially stayed in the closet for so long. In what world, USFS? He was successful on the junior scene both solo and with Yamaguchi, but he had some really brilliant performances at Nationals before he hit big in 1996-- and he was typically buried in the standings. The whole discussion about having to go about a certain path with Gracie if it were to come out that she was bisexual is so annoying. This sport should be a safe place for LGBTQ youth to go and 'be themselves' or at least escape the fear of having to constantly pretend, but USFS still sure seems stuck in their ways. Although one part I can't agree with Gracie on is the marking of Johnny Weir. His programs were empty. It wasn't because he was out and proud

 

[Smiley0884]

On chapter 6 now, some of the verbal/mental/emotional abuse that she was subjected to by coaches early in her career is horrifying. The fact that so many parents accept it as a means for "success" is one of the first things that needs to be obliterated from youth sports immediately.

 

[overedge]

On chapter 6 now, some of the verbal/mental/emotional abuse that she was subjected to by coaches early in her career is horrifying. The fact that so many parents accept it as a means for "success" is one of the first things that needs to be obliterated from youth sports immediately.

From all sports, regardless of the age of the participants.

 

[B.Cooper]

I think @Sylvia mentioned that in the first post of the thread.

thought it might bear to be repeated, since the thread was started back in August and not
everyone scrolls back ;-) and the book came out this week