“It Wasn’t a Very Healthy Relationship”: Olympian Kara Goucher Introspects on How Her Tough Childhood Shaped Her as an Adult

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, several athletes who have retired from the competitive field are surfacing with first-hand experience stories. Among them is Kara Goucher, the long-distance runner who didn’t compete since 2016, but has some prominent podiums under her belt. As the 10k World(2007) silver medalist worked through the years gathering wisdom, she compiled all of it in a book named “The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team”. It was released in March 2023.

But what doesn’t reflect in the title is her walk down memory lane. The Queens-born American sprinter has had a rough childhood which, in a way, carved her adult life. In a recent podcast, the 45-year-old gives a brief idea of her book content and some stories that bring her source of determination to light.

Kara Goucher sheds light on her heartwrenching past

In the Rich Roll podcast titled “Nike’s DIRTY SECRET: Olympian Kara Goucher on Doping, Abuse & Deception”, the 2x Olympian shared something sure to leave fans empathetic. When asked how she goes about “compartmentalization” and dealing with traumas, she said, “My dad died when I was little my mom got remarried it wasn’t a very healthy relationship and I got really good…” She mentioned a little about the Oregon project, saying, “I actually can’t feel that and so you know that doesn’t serve me well”.

She whose father was killed by an intoxicated driver tried to settle with her step-father. But her pillar of strength stepped in when she married fellow Olympian Adam Goucher. Being a former Nike Athlete, Kara released her book to be the voice of athletes who have seen gaslighting up close. Despite an unpleasant experience with her Oregon Project coach, the 45-year-old built a resume to last a lifetime.

Kara Goucher’s storied career

In college, she was a level apart athlete who secured the NCAA Outdoor Champion titles in 3000m and 5000m. Moreover, another win came from the Cross Country Championship too. At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, she clocked in at a stellar time to nab the silver podium. Another bronze came from the 10th IAAF World Cup in 2006.

To say more, she added more bronze from the 2008 and 2009 World Marathon Majors. Also a marathoner, she finished third at the 2012 US Olympic Marathon trials. But she missed sticking to her top 10 position at the finals. In 2021, she faced a blow of repetitive dystonia, which is gradually diminishing her ability to run and walk.

READ MORE: “Nike Hates Women”: Unfair Treatment to Allyson Felix, Simone Biles, and Other Female Athletes Over the Years Leaves Olympic Fans Furious With the Brand