A nervous Gracie Gold struggled with her jumps Friday in her first competitive program since receiving treatment last year for anxiety, depression and an eating disorder.
The Sochi Olympian and two-time U.S. champion fell on a triple flip and popped an Axel, tallying 37.51 points for last place of 10 skaters. Gold buried her head in her hands as the score was announced.
“We just had to start with something, even if it was trash,” she said, according to The Associated Press. “This is six months out of rock bottom, so we’ll just go from there.
“The goal was just to show up and try to be brave.”
Russian Olympic champion Alina Zagitova scored a world-leading 80.78 points, gapping countrywoman Sofia Samodurova by 13.38 going into Saturday’s free skate.
Gold, 23, last competed at the January 2017 U.S. Championships, where she placed sixth and split from coach Frank Carroll.
“I was trying to think why I was so nervous. You say it’s been a while,” she said, according to the AP, “but I’ve never gone into a big Grand Prix event where I was so, frankly, not trained.”
Gold announced Sept. 1, 2017, that she was seeking professional help “after recent struggles on and off the ice,” then detailed what she was seeking treatment for the following month. She watched last January’s U.S. Championships from the stands and, in the spring, began working on programs for this season under new coach Vincent Restencourt.
“I am not even close to 100 percent,” Gold said Thursday, according to OlympicChannel.com, “probably only like 30 or 40 percent of what I would like to over the next four years going into the next Olympics.”
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Earlier Friday, double Olympic champ Yuzuru Hanyu topped the men’s short with the world’s highest score this season.
Favored Russians took leads in pairs (Yevgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov) and ice dance (Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin), moving one step closer to December’s Grand Prix Final.
In dance, U.S. junior champions Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko are in second going into Saturday’s rhythm dance, eyeing their first Grand Prix medal.
As a reminder, you can watch the ISU Grand Prix Series live and on-demand with the ‘Figure Skating Pass’ on NBC Sports Gold. GO HERE to sign up for access to every ISU Grand Prix and championship event, as well as domestic U.S. Figure Skating events throughout the season…NBC Sports Gold gives subscribers an unprecedented level of access on more platforms and devices than ever before.
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MORE: Gracie Gold wants to be new skater in comeback
Guys...I just remembered today that competing is hard 🤦🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/DYDES8GAiF
— Gracie Gold (@GraceEGold) November 16, 2018
In all seriousness, I am absolutely overwhelmed with all of your kind words and support. I cannot thank you enough. The only place to go from here is up ❤️
— Gracie Gold (@GraceEGold) November 16, 2018
My sister is the bravest person I know. First competition in nearly two years, at a Grand Prix no less. Onwards and upwards from here ❤️
— Carly Gold (@CarlyCGold) November 16, 2018
