Gracie Gold's memoir published February 2024

[MacMadame]

My sisters and I were all two years apart and we aren't close at all. Families are complicated and whether the kids are close or not depends on many factors.

Also since Michelle Kwan. It's clear that that didn't end well, even though we'll probably never know what really happened. I would imagine that Gracie would have mentioned it in her book, if Frank had ever confided in her about Michelle.

I would be horrified if Frank confided in her about something that was none of her business but I'm pretty sure, if he did, that she wouldn't blab about it in a book as it has nothing to do with her own story.

 

[bardtoob]

The only thing Frank has ever been cagey about are his film credits from 60s beach movies

Otherwise, Frank has been pretty open about the circles of people he has interacted with over the years.

Also, from the beginning Frank has been very clear over the years when the press has tried to characterize his relationship with Michelle Kwan that she has ONLY one father and his name is Danny Kwan.

 

[overedge]

The only thing Frank has ever been cagey about are his film credits from 60s beach movies

Michelle learned from the best about how to keep things out of the public eye, like her sekret baby.

I really hope that Frank has entrusted someone with his stage name and his list of credits, with instructions to release those after he passes. It would be a shame if we could never pick him out dancing on the beach behind Frankie and Annette

 

[moonvine]

I've just finished reading Gold's book, and she is definitely a phoenix rising from the ashes.

As fantastic as it would have been for her to win the 2016 World Championships (and I still consider her first place in the short program which I saw live a massive victory), this powerful read will likely keep her in our hearts far longer than that kind of achievement ever might.

This is a tremendous gift to give fans and followers, and I congratulate Gold on her candid bravery and strength. A true champion.

She has not and will never be out of my heart.

 

[Frau Muller]

Just finished the book. Intensely strong and seemingly quite honest. This made me go through my DVD collection to see her best and not-so-good skates. Quite a story! Highly recommended - Brava, Gracie! May her future dreams come true!

 

[canbelto]

One thing that's puzzling is Gracie was coached by Zueva twice and yet barely mentions her in the book. It's as if they had a non-existent relationship.

 

[bardtoob]

One thing that's puzzling is Gracie was coached by Zueva twice and yet barely mentions her in the book. It's as if they had a non-existent relationship.

Gracie has repeatedly said how kind Zueva has been to her, and leaving Zueva out of the book is probably the kindest thing Gracie can do for Zueva.

 

[Smiley0884]

It also sounded like Zoueva was acting as a bridge coach for Gracie when she had left prior coaching relationships without having another permanent solution set up.

 

[Karina1974]

And it's not just skating and gymnastics. There definitely are overly intense parents in other sports, including soccer and swimming and golf.

I saw a couple as a baton twirler competing at the state/regional level 30-some years ago. My parents never pushed me into it (took 4 years of me teaching myself from library books for them to consider putting me into formal lessons), and I think they were actually relieved when I finally quit twirling entirely at age 23.

 

[Karina1974]

Imagine if someone had tried to stick a mic in Trusova or Valieva's face after THAT Olympic free skate.

They showed Trusova's emotional outburst, and Johnny's translating what she was yelling. That was bad enough. That was overall probably the most un-Olympic of all the Olympic Ladies' Figure Skating events in the history of the sport. Show me another Olympics where there was that level of screaming and crying tantrums on the part of a skater who didn't win.

My twirling coach would have kicked me out of her school if I ever behaved that way at a competition.

 

[coppertop1]

They showed Trusova's emotional outburst, and Johnny's translating what she was yelling. That was bad enough. That was overall probably the most un-Olympic of all the Olympic Ladies' Figure Skating events in the history of the sport. Show me another Olympics where there was that level of screaming and crying tantrums on the part of a skater who didn't win.

My twirling coach would have kicked me out of her school if I ever behaved that way at a competition.

Way to judge a person having an emotional breakdown. Your attitude is part of the problem. I bet it's nice to sit behind your screen and police reactions.

 

[caseyedwards]

They showed Trusova's emotional outburst, and Johnny's translating what she was yelling. That was bad enough. That was overall probably the most un-Olympic of all the Olympic Ladies' Figure Skating events in the history of the sport. Show me another Olympics where there was that level of screaming and crying tantrums on the part of a skater who didn't win.

My twirling coach would have kicked me out of her school if I ever behaved that way at a competition.

Sale and Pelletier

 

[tony]

Way to judge a person having an emotional breakdown. Your attitude is part of the problem. I bet it's nice to sit behind your screen and police reactions.

Doesn't almost everyone here, at different levels, basically sit behind their screen and police reactions, police the skating, police the costuming and make-up, police Russian skaters for not fleeing the country, police what every other celebrity may or may not be doing, and so on? My eyes may be deceiving-- I'm getting older.

I am quite sure the reaction towards Bonaly's 'emotional breakdown' in 1994 was (edited for clarity) more of the same 'attitude', and she didn't even give anyone the finger on the podium

 

[PRlady]

Doesn't almost everyone here, at different levels, basically sit behind their screen and police reactions, police the skating, police the costuming and make-up, police Russian skaters for not fleeing the country, police what every other celebrity may or may not be doing, and so on? My eyes may be deceiving-- I'm getting older.

I am quite sure the reaction towards Bonaly's 'emotional breakdown' in 1994 was completely different.

You know it wasn’t. We didn’t have the internet then to all yell Sore Loser at the top of our collective lungs but that was the tone of all the media coverage I saw. Maybe it was different in France.

 

[tony]

You know it wasn’t. We didn’t have the internet then to all yell Sore Loser at the top of our collective lungs but that was the tone of all the media coverage I saw. Maybe it was different in France.

Yeah, I edited for clarity before your reply. I meant completely different than what original poster was suggesting historically happens in these situations, and I don't really remember anyone running to Bonaly's defense in the decade or more following it happening.

ETA- who could forget Kerrigan's 'sore loser' antics waiting for Baiul to reapply her make-up that she was just going to cry off again (even if it was trying to locate the Ukrainian anthem) and her meh reaction on the podium? CBS sure loved that.

 

[Winnipeg]

However, NK really got blasted when she kind of bad-mouthed good old Mickey Mouse.

SB in 1994 when she skated away from the podium was really bad, especially because she thought she should have won and clearly was not better than the skaters ahead of her. She was an athletic skater but, IMHO, had no musical sense at all.

 

[coppertop1]

However, NK really got blasted when she kind of bad-mouthed good old Mickey Mouse.

SB in 1994 when she skated away from the podium was really bad, especially because she thought she should have won and clearly was not better than the skaters ahead of her. She was an athletic skater but, IMHO, had no musical sense at all.

I can't help but wonder why Bonaly's career could have been like if it was for her mother's interference, and she had a coach who could have improved her other areas. Overall, I think she was more sinned against than sinning.

In Vancouver, there was Plushenko who complained non stop above not winning the gold.

 

[canbelto]

One of the weirder things about NK was the media narrative that she was this sheltered, sparkly ice princess. Her family was probably even more blue collar than Tonya's.

 

[JJH]

Nancy was snarky.

 

[bardtoob]

Way to judge a person having an emotional breakdown. Your attitude is part of the problem. I bet it's nice to sit behind your screen and police reactions.

Sale and Pelletier

Well, at least Sale and Pelletier were throwing a fit about a winner from another country.

 

[Coco]

Surya had paid her dues, so to speak. Soooo many silver and bronze medals. I think she can be forgiven for thinking it was her time.

 

[bardtoob]

I can't help but wonder why Bonaly's career could have been like if it was for her mother's interference, and she had a coach who could have improved her other areas. Overall, I think she was more sinned against than sinning.

Surya didn't have a chance given her mother, the French version of the archetypal skating mom, and her coach, Didier Gailhaguet, who let her focus exclusively on jumps early in her career. Surya was a far better blades-to-ice skater in 1998 than she was in 1992, when she was considered an Olympic medal contender.

 

[Aceon6]

Nancy was snarky.

Comes by it naturally. There’s none snarkier than a blue collar person from one of the towns just north of Boston. As we say “no filtah”

 

[Allskate]

One thing that's puzzling is Gracie was coached by Zueva twice and yet barely mentions her in the book. It's as if they had a non-existent relationship.

Gracie thanks her in the Acknowledgements.

 

[tony]

One thing that's puzzling is Gracie was coached by Zueva twice and yet barely mentions her in the book. It's as if they had a non-existent relationship.

Gracie thanks her in the Acknowledgements.

She also at some point in the book, I think early on when talking about Cruella and Alex, said Marina and Oleg were great (or maybe even 'perfect') coaches and she had nothing bad to say about them. Doesn't make for as interesting a storyline to just repeatedly say how good they were

 

[Belsornia]

I finished the book last night and thought there are good lessons for parents even without star children. I was at her small comp in Ashbourne in Sept ‘22 and Boston Skate America and thought she looked miserable and why was she putting herself through this. Now I understand her feelings were much more complex.

Gracie's more recent career makes me wish there was still more of a pro scene in skating. Her book reads like Gracie saw her options in skating as return to the full competitive circuit or Disney on Ice (no unreasonably, IMO). She enjoys coaching but she hasn't yet been ready to make that move full time. But it seems like the old pro circuit, with more opportunities to perform and competitions without the same technical demands and pressures for results would have been ideal for her.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I wish she'd been allowed to play hockey when she asked.

 

[Coco]

Even a masters circuit would be nice.

 

[Jarrett]

Nancy was snarky.

Based on the all the times I saw her on TV growing up she was rather blunt about herself and others. I never understood why people thought she was some stereotypical ice princess. She always had an edge to me that I appreciated looking back.

 

[aussieSKATES]

I finished the book today and was so impressed by the writing. The subject of Chapter 17 was so delicate, but it was done so thoughtfully and eloquently. I was sobbing as I read it because I could feel Gracie’s pain and grief and confusion. The final chapter also hit me right in the heart, especially her letter to skating.

I was surprised by how many details she gave regarding the skater who assaulted her. I was able to figure out pretty easily who it was. I hope she’ll be able to get justice through her case.

We finished reading her book over the weekend. To say that we're shocked would be an understatement, after putting together all of the clues Gold hinted.