Suzy Favor Hamilton: Running Through Life with Mental Illness
Millions of people watched the Summer Olympics of 2000, and many remember the point where Suzy Favor Hamilton collapsed to the track on her last lap. It was publicized that dehydration caused her to fall, but the truth came out years later. Suzy Favor Hamilton led a double life unbeknownst to herself and others, running from mental illness in many forms. She is a three time Olympian, a mother, a wife, on the New York Times best seller list, and a motivational speaker. She was a professional runner for Nike and a Las Vegas escort. The largest battle she faced and faces to this day is the battle of mental illness, in her family and her own mind. In her own words she states, “Mine …show more content…
She felt as if she was a horse, running free through the woods, she never grew tired of the feeling, and through running she found a new sense of self and happiness. She would not experience that happiness again until thirty years later. It is recorded that through the 1990’s Suzy Favor Hamilton was one of the fastest runners in the world. Suzy achieved many awards and titles as a runner. She participated in three Olympic Games, she was a nine-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, three-time United States record holder, and seven-time National champion (Handwerker). In addition to these awards and titles Suzy was the second-fastest 1500 metre runner in American history until …show more content…
Before the race, even began Suzy’s mind was setting her up for failure. She became anxious as she thought of all the people she wanted to make happy by winning the gold, including her husband, her family, her Nike sponsors, and her nation. She wanted to win the medal to honor her brother who had died a year earlier. Everyone expected greatness from her, and Suzy would later say she “choked” under the pressure of trying to please everyone. Suzy led the race, she was going to “Win the gold!”, and then the anxiety set in, and runners began to pass her. As each runner passed her she became paralyzed, she knew there was no way to win, or medal, and she gave in to the stress of letting everyone down. She threw herself to the track floor with only 50 metres left to finish the race. She admits now, that it was intentional, that she had given up because it was easier to fall rather than let people see her fail. After her fall she got back up and finished the race, she again collapsed at the finish line. Suzy finished last. It was reported that the cause of her fall was dehydration. This was the first time she was misdiagnosed. The doctor said she experienced Sports Performance Anxiety, she was not provided any therapeutic
Millions of people watched the Summer Olympics of 2000, and many remember the point where Suzy Favor Hamilton collapsed to the track on her last lap. It was publicized that dehydration caused her to fall, but the truth came out years later. Suzy Favor Hamilton led a double life unbeknownst to herself and others, running from mental illness in many forms. She is a three time Olympian, a mother, a wife, on the New York Times best seller list, and a motivational speaker. She was a professional runner for Nike and a Las Vegas escort. The largest battle she faced and faces to this day is the battle of mental illness, in her family and her own mind. In her own words she states, “Mine …show more content…
She felt as if she was a horse, running free through the woods, she never grew tired of the feeling, and through running she found a new sense of self and happiness. She would not experience that happiness again until thirty years later. It is recorded that through the 1990’s Suzy Favor Hamilton was one of the fastest runners in the world. Suzy achieved many awards and titles as a runner. She participated in three Olympic Games, she was a nine-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, three-time United States record holder, and seven-time National champion (Handwerker). In addition to these awards and titles Suzy was the second-fastest 1500 metre runner in American history until …show more content…
Before the race, even began Suzy’s mind was setting her up for failure. She became anxious as she thought of all the people she wanted to make happy by winning the gold, including her husband, her family, her Nike sponsors, and her nation. She wanted to win the medal to honor her brother who had died a year earlier. Everyone expected greatness from her, and Suzy would later say she “choked” under the pressure of trying to please everyone. Suzy led the race, she was going to “Win the gold!”, and then the anxiety set in, and runners began to pass her. As each runner passed her she became paralyzed, she knew there was no way to win, or medal, and she gave in to the stress of letting everyone down. She threw herself to the track floor with only 50 metres left to finish the race. She admits now, that it was intentional, that she had given up because it was easier to fall rather than let people see her fail. After her fall she got back up and finished the race, she again collapsed at the finish line. Suzy finished last. It was reported that the cause of her fall was dehydration. This was the first time she was misdiagnosed. The doctor said she experienced Sports Performance Anxiety, she was not provided any therapeutic