Suzy Favor Hamilton

Suzy Favor is a three-time Olympian and author of Fast Girl, a raw, though incomplete, account of her journey battling bipolar disorder and subsequent descent into the world of sex work. A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Favor was a celebrated high school runner who achieved 11 State titles before attending the University of Wisconsin as an art major. During her time at Wisconsin, Favor won an unprecedented 9 NCAA Track titles, in distances ranging from 800 to 3,000 meters. Favor became the first college track athlete to win four successive NCAA titles in the same event and set the still-standing NCAA 800-meter meet record in 1990. In recognition of her athletic accomplishments, Favor was awarded the Honda-Broderick Cup and Babe Zaharias Awards as the nation’s top female collegiate athlete.

Following her graduation from Wisconsin, Favor pursued a 14 year career as a professional runner, highlighted by 7 national championships, two American records, breaking 4 minutes for the 1,500 meters, and representing the United States in three Olympic Games. In 1999, Favor’s older brother, Dan, died by suicide following a long battle with bipolar disorder. In that same year, Favor partially tore her achilles tendon and missed the entire season rehabilitating her injury. She rebounded in 2000 to have the best time in the world in the 1,500 meters and entered the Sydney Olympics as a favorite to medal. However, despite leading the Olympic 1,500 final in the last lap, Favor suffered a panic attack and finished last in the race. At a time when succumbing to mental pressure (especially by female athletes) carried a heavy stigma, Favor’s fall was the beginning of the end of her athletic career.

After having a daughter, Kylie, in 2005, Favor’s life seemed to be turning toward the better. However, in 2011, after starting on a new medication, Favor began to exhibit early signs of bipolar mania. Favor’s husband then made a shocking ask, that she join him on a visit to Las Vegas to skydive and to see an escort. In her impaired state Favor agreed, and that experience - combined with other events not described in the book - started the downfall outlined in Fast Girl.

Following many difficult years after the publication of Fast Girl, Favor divorced her husband, reunited with her family, and for the first time was able to access the in-depth therapy she needed to fully understand and begin to heal from her past. Today Favor lives a quiet life in Southern California, where she focuses on her art business and on helping other women seeking to understand and recover from relationship and mental health-related traumas.