The memoir is truly fantastic. I had assumed it'd be very self-deprecating, like she is in interviews, but it's not... It's not self-pitying at all -- it's just excellent, insightful, beautifully written and narrated. Contrary to what was said/thought at the start of her comeback, her capacity to bounce back after being truly *embarrassed*, to have morphed herself into this dynamic person whose story has meant to much to the sport (and to anyone, really), is, in fact, BRAVE
Random little sad-funny tidbit: I Googled (not for the first time) Carl Gold to see if anything was new with his license, and I listened to the beginning of a 2021 podcast he was interviewed for (re: transitioning to a nonclinical career), and he said he had been clean for 30 years, no mention of the 2018 urine saga, saying that a colleague had it out for him and made the whole thing up 😑
“The” Ann Jensen here - I was so emotionally drained by this. Having her perspective on all the things I saw and heard about during this time. I listened to the Audio book all in one day - still running it over in my head - still examining all of it. So much trauma in the world - and so much amplification of it happened to her. For years I have felt that supporting skating in all the ways I volunteer makes me an accessory to so many things I don’t support. May all the skaters succeed in life after ice.
Your second to last sentence 😢 oh how I relate! And the skaters around me were all aware of the toxic stuff happening under the surface, and we all felt uncomfortable every time a teammate was “done dirty” by the coaches. But at the same time we rationalized it to ourselves by thinking oh they must have a good reason, they’d never do that to me. Until they do and you realize you were paying $500 a month to be emotionally abused 😢
I’m a librarian, I read a lot. This book both gutted me and inspired me like no other book in years. Gracie persevered through so much and could have a successful in so many other ways, but chose her passion even though it was the most difficult path. I hope she gets everything she wants in life, she has already paid for it.
That part is still with me too! Like he got all his references from 1950s society “she looks like Grace Kelly,” “the devils lettuce” was straight out of prohibition era reefer madness propaganda lol Meanwhile it’s legal in half the country and most states have medical programs these days 😂
I believe the 4CC example was when Gracie talks about how figure skating after parties can get wild and one country’s skaters destroyed a whole floor of the hotel after one 4CC (my impression was that the party where the SA happened was in the US/perhaps Chicago).
I finished Gracie’s book in 2 days. It made me cry, laugh and left me inspired. I am really impressed by how her writing roped me in and I normally don’t like autobiographies.
I think we are very unlikely to see a discussion about this book between Ashley and Gracie - not because they didn’t care for each other - but because I’m sure Chapter 17 adds so many difficult complexities to the mix.
Thank you Dave and Jonathan. Just started listening to the audio book here in the UK. Very eloquent - very powerful - and agree - hearing her read it herself is very moving. Back in the day the commentators all remarked on the weight of female figure skaters (only the female ones!). I am not going to single anyone skater or commentator out but even at the time I felt it was egregious. Gracie is incredibly brave to confront all this head on. So much respect for her.
The part about Vincent disappearing was wild. And no one has heard from him since? Curious if she meant no one in the skating world or in general no one has heard from him?
I also wondered the same. I love how Gracie was like, “this is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever experienced, and dear reader, if you’ve gotten this far in the book, you know that’s saying a lot.” I laughed so hard.
I really enjoyed this discussion! I finally finished Gracie’s book this past weekend and I couldn’t agree more with both of your takes. That book and journey not only shook me but blew me away!
I still remember when CBS showed the room Michelle was in when she won silver in Nagano. I felt so sad for Michelle. Then it happened again on NBC in SLC. To be a fly on those walls.
It was invasive indeed but at the same time, it was still telling you who the star was, regardless of who was wearing the gold medal around their neck both nights.
I am only a few chapters in, but absolutely love hearing the story read by Gracie herself on Audible. Same with Adam Rippon's book. You really feel like they are talking to you and it's a different experience. Adam's was more humorous than Gracie though.
This book was even better than I expected it to be. So many excellent insights from Gracie on such complex and tough topics. I thought Chapter 17 (regarding her friendship with John) was so well-written and made so many important points. I also liked the chapter about Alex O. because of the nuanced discussion of the situation and, like Chapter 17, pointing out how two seemingly inconsistent truths can exist at the same time: that Alex made her the Olympian she became, but that she also couldn’t have made it to the Olympics with him still as her coach.
I had the hardest time finding Gracie's book at Barnes and Noble today. Unfortunately, I don't think it's being "pushed" to an audience outside of skating. Has anyone else had trouble finding her book?
❤❤❤ figure skating is a brutal sport and eating disorders start young among females. My friend confirmed all this and more in addition to being a afraid of coaches. One coach turned out to be addicted to meth and was particularly brutal with her skaters.
I wonder if it is possible not to have disordered eating in FS. Mental strength and training is important but it’s at the end of the day, a body weight ratio sport. You cannot do certain elements if you are not within that body weight ratio no matter what your body type without either serious injuries or you just can’t… I would love to see a return of “figure” skating but it’s impossible to do todays elements without maintaining a body weight ratio which is unattainable for most and unsustainable long term.
@@verycooltricks8176 perhaps the Russian method of examining body type and directing children into sports their bodies are more suited to might be something to consider. Are eating disorders prevalent in gymnastics? The body type of women in that sport has changed considerably over the last 30 years with the young women being more muscular and being able to compete into their 30's and 40s!
@@verycooltricks8176 I still wonder if that is true about needing to be a certain body weight. Without mentioning anyone in particular, there are and have been skaters that do not fit the tiny, stick-figure stereotype who have been quite successful. I think there is pressure to look a certain way more than than there is achieve optimal performance. After all, skaters at the top level appear before live audiences and on TV wearing skimpy or tight outfits. They are subject to fans saying they are fat or look like cows or all other sorts of body-shaming. Social media has only made it worse.
@@Patricia599that is a very astute insight. I know with Russian ballet which obviously heavily influences their figure skating culture, they pay careful attention to the young bodies of potential ballerinas. They even go so far as to look at their genetics and their parents. This is especially helpful in the vaganova method to ensure that girls that are not naturally plump shall we say are not encouraged to pursue the top tiers in ballet because they will inevitably fail. For one, they will try to starve themselves to sustain a thin body type, and secondly, Body Lines are extremely important in ballet as well as figure skating, and a thin body type is much more adept at having gorgeous body lines of course when coupled with technique and artistry. It's just the truth. Even with models, they specifically choose thin models because the clothes look more beautiful on them.
Plan on reading it this weekend on my Kindle. Having heard bits & pieces about it I'm am intrigued especially after reading the books written by Denise Bielman - I think the edition is only available now in German - and Kirii Korpi's where they talk about eating disorders & parental control.
Thanks for posting this, I think this was my favourite TSL episode in a long time! Seemed a lot more chill and on topic and less focussed on drama somehow. I'm definitely keen to track down Gracie's book - would usually buy on kindle but I feel like this is one that other people I know would also want to read, so hopefully I can find a hard copy. I did a camp and some lessons with her a couple of years back and she was great, super open and candid even then about her struggles.
Jonathan at 39:52 me too. I had a therapy appointment the day after i finished the book and we discussed a bullying episode I had internalized for 40 plus years
Thank you for this conversation. I bought the audio book after listening to this. Beautiful done and (I know this is over-used) but brave. Brought up a lot for me as well.
Just got my copy today! Had to order from the US after not seeing it in the shops and has only just arrived in the UK... looking forward to watching this after I finish. Thanks for all the coverage lately on skating news love hearing your opinions and the guests opinions
The John Coughlin Chapter (17). Was a very tough read. I was shocked by the rape. And horrified, but not surprised but the various agencies letting it fall to the “bottom of the pile”.
Was it John Coughlin? Why doesn't she say his name? Whoever it is, why can't she say his name? She said "5 years later he is still competing." So it can't be him.
Rusty Cath interviewed Gracie at nationals and she seemed ready to eat him alive. He was not prepared for the interview and she was having NONE of his fakeness.
@TheSkatingLesson oh my bad, wasn't asking you directly, i inderstand why u and Gracie cant say it but commenters on here from the knowlegable tsl community can without any worry so id just imagine youd have the critical thinking skills and common sense to know i wasnt asking you directly. Apologies for any confusion, but as there are so many problematic Russian gold medalists. I don't know who was working out of Los Angeles at that time.
I was assuming Yagudin or Plushenko but also was not sure which one. I do not have critical thinking skills either to know which one was in LA at that time.
2018 Cup of Russia was terrifying. Does she discuss that event? What it was like to have all those ED children around her from Eteri's camp while she was struggling?
@@JohnnyOpera1 excellent - do you do only group classes or privates? Honestly keep thinking Dave's skating could benefit and there is a good senior practitioner I believe in Montclair, NJ - Karen Donelson.
I really love you guys. I appreciate your courage and candor. In this segment however I find you Dave a bit pulled back from your emotions about the book. Almost as if you were strategically trying to bring it back to too much gossip. Jonathan felt very honest with his experience what the book brought up in him. Nevertheless I thank you for what you are giving.
Who knows. But honestly, Isabeau's LP from Nationals was one of the most harrowing skates I've witnessed. They definitely both get nervous, but Gracie had better technique. I kind of miss an Ashley or a Polina. There's a certain kind of delusional self-confidence you need to have to keep the meltdowns at bay.
Thank you as always TSL ❤ I always appreciate your refreshing approach to delivering skating news. I am stunned and so very amused by the Reddit post reaction. Screw that. Some of us very much appreciate your satire 😂
@@TheSkatingLessonI would never have thought in a million years that you would even need to explain this to people. I'm honestly stunned by how badly and wrongly people took it and by how toxic their reaction is in calling TSL out! You just have to laugh at the selective outrage of the Reddit community. 😂
I am sorry I know you love Polina but she doesn't sparkle as a skater or personality to me. Maybe she doesn't have enough cachet. I think we would like to see Nicole Bobek, Tonya Harding, Gracie Gold and sasha cohen in some kind of reality type show.I would have liked to hear Gracie and her apparent preoccupation with being in the lime light, when to say goodbye, Also we need to remember her skating early on until like 2016 or so was paid for by her dad. Look at what happened after she tried to come back and her dresses were cheap. The way you talk it sounds like it is game over for Gracie Gold.
Gracie Gold is truly a talented skater But I often feel like her persona is..victim. I appreciate her honesty to discuss her most personal struggles, yet I feel like these issues can possibly overshadow her success in the sport.
@@JackAShepherd...I haven't read the book, But the Title is in keeping with the Victim mentality she's been known for over the years as her career didn't reach the heights she wanted. Woe is me!
@user-kf8wb2cq4f I think you should read it. You seem to be buying into the narrative that was written about her at her worst. The title is the name of her inner demon. She’s honest about the people who failed her, but writes most of them with a lot of grace. She’s also honest about how she failed herself. It’s a pretty insightful book written from someone who takes accountability for her mistakes but wants to make the sport accountable for its mistakes too.
