Suzy Favor Hamilton memoir on being an Olympic athlete and high-end escort out this month

In the 1990s, those who watched the sport closely would have known Suzy Favor Hamilton’s name well. This month, the former Olympian has a memoir coming out. Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness hits the shelves Sept. 16.

The middle-distance runner was a star on the track and favourite among many running fans competing mainly in the 800m and 1,500m. Favor Hamilton represented the U.S. at three Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Her career is peppered with high-level track competitions: several races at the IAAF World Championships and youth championships and other international competitions.

Favor Hamilton graced covers of women’s magazines and running magazines and became a spokesperson for athletic apparel companies, appearing in ads for brands like Nike, Reebok and Oakley.

She had a career many dream of but while watching her races on the screen, most had no idea Favor Hamilton struggled with bipolar disorder. Much of her running was fueled by mania. Despite her accomplishments, when she left the track, she had a hard time getting past shame from her athletic career. To add to that she was having trouble at home with her marriage and her role as a mother. Her mental illness went untreated and soon Suzy took on a new identity, “Kelly” and became listed with a high-level escort agency.

She went on to work as an escort in LA, Vegas and Chicago with rates as high as $600 an hour. Most didn’t know Kelly was a former Olympian but eventually she was recognized and outed. What followed was deep depression. Favor Hamilton became suicidal with her life in the public eye.

Through the support of her husband and proper care for her mental illness, she began her recovery. Now, fans of this star runner can begin to understand what happened to Favor Hamilton and how events unfolded the way they did. By reading her memoir.

Canadian Running has an exclusive interview with Favor Hamilton next month. Keep an eye out for our chat with the runner about her new book.