The 1990 Honda Cup winner, Suzy Favor, excelled as a middle distance runner for decades and in three Olympics. It all began with adventures in her family. However, starting as a high school US Jr. Record Holder in the 1500m and as she went to University of Wisconsin she was also coping with bulimia. Having overcome it she now shares her insights and explains that it’s not about food but about control. Her turning point was when she learned that stress fractures would continue unless she changed her eating habits and nutrition. Having faced that she was always incredibly prepared by her collegiate coach and able to move on. This she did with winning 23 Big Ten Championships becoming the first woman to win 800m and 1500m at the NCAA Championship in the same season.

Suzy ’s running in the 80’s (in a sport that was not yet mainstream) led her to winning every collegiate race and then the Honda-Broderick Cup in 1990. The Class of 1990 was filled with future Olympians and yet what Suzy appreciates most about her fellow honorees was their incredibly good character. Some of the best advice she was given from coaches throughout her career was to keep sport fun.

Years of professional running brought more challenges and benefits including traveling the world and meeting international people. When asked what made her so good she responded that she was coachable. She then went on to say that after decades she lost her voice and only in the past years is finding it once again. Learning to face the pressure in her third Olympics, Suzy went into the race as the fastest women in the world at 1500 meters. We also hear how she dealt with suffering from postpartum depression after having daughter Kylie and how subsequently medications triggered bipolar. Learn about her commitment to mental health issues and her reflections as she pursues her art within a slower and thoughtful world that she has created in the mountains of California.

Host: Chris Voelz
A co-production of WiSP Sports and the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards

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