US athlete Gracie Gold has announced her withdrawal from the Grand Prix series. Announcing her decision, the figure skater revealed that she is getting treatment for depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. Gracie, who was part of the US team that bagged a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi games in Russia, announced on Friday that she would drop out of the series and instead focus on the upcoming Olympic games.
Difficult decision
In a statement to NBC Sports, the 22-year-old said, although opting out of the Grand Prix Series saddened her, she knows that the decision is for the best.
Gracie added that due to the treatment she is going through, she will not have adequate preparations to compete at the level she wants to. Gracie's statement went on to thank the US Figure Skating, her sponsors, and fans for their overwhelming support. She also appreciated her coaches and family for standing with her during her difficult period.
Previously, Gracie dropped out of the invitational Japan Open. She has now decided not to participate in two Grand Prix Series international competitions set to take place in November: The Internationaux de France and Cup of China. The timing could not have been more inappropriate, with the Olympic qualifiers for the US team slated for January next year.
However, despite missing the Grand Prix assignments, Gracie will still be able to compete in US nationals.
Gracie's family is proud of her
Last month, the bronze medalist announced that she would take a break from training for the 2018 Winter Games, to get help after facing struggles "on and off the ice." Speaking to USA Today, Gracie said that she remains thoroughly committed to skating and training.
She, however, added that due to recent struggles on and off the ice, she decided to take a break and seek professional help. She did not reveal the kind of professional help she would look for, although a source close to her told that she had been struggling with several personal issues. According to The Daily Mail, the source revealed that Gracie would focus on her health.
The source added that the athlete's family are proud of her for the manner she has faced her problems. Her family is happy with her decision to take time from figure skating and take care of herself. Gracie has suffered a disappointing 2016-17 season. She finished sixth at the US national championships in January, marking the first time she lost out on a place in the country's team for the world championships.
