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Figure skater Gracie Gold withdraws from Grand Prix Series

By Emily Pacenti
Gracie Gold performs during the figure skating ladies short program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI
1 of 3 | Gracie Gold performs during the figure skating ladies short program at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. figure skater Gracie Gold, an Olympic team bronze medalist, withdrew from all assignments in the upcoming Grand Prix Series, citing "depression, anxiety and an eating disorder."

The two-time U.S. champion had announced last month that she would be taking some time off to treat mental health issues. On Friday, she said she wouldn't compete in the Grand Prix.

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While the Grand Prix Series does not determine who goes to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, Gold's absence indicates she won't likely compete for a spot on Team USA.

Olympic competitors will be determined at the nationals in January, a competition Gold has won twice before.

For the upcoming and highly anticipated Grand Prix Series, her first assignment was to compete at the Cup of China. She would have skated alongside esteemed competitors such as Gabrielle Daleman, who took bronze at last year's Worlds and silver at the Four Continents. For her second assignment, the Internationeaux De France, she was set to take on skaters like Worlds silver medalist Kaetlyn Osmond. As a major competitor in last year's Grand Prix, winning gold at Internationeaux De France and silver at Skate America, Gold's absence in the competitive season will be felt by fans and fellow athletes.

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"It saddens me deeply to sit out this Grand Prix Series, but I know it is for the best. I will not have adequate training time to prepare and compete at the level that I want to," Gold, 22, said in a statement. "I would like to thank U.S. Figure Skating, my fans and my sponsors for their ongoing support."

The Grand Prix Series starts Friday with the Rostelecom Cup in Russia. The Olympics begin Feb. 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

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