Katie Grace Olinger is a senior on the softball team at the University of North Carolina where she is also a student in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. She is originally from Gainesville, Florida, but has since fallen in love with North Carolina and the beauty the state has to offer.
Katie Grace played softball her entire freshman year, but had to redshirt her sophomore year after a battle with severe anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. She ultimately took a break from school and softball, went into residential treatment, and returned to the team in recovery. She played her junior year even though it was cut short by COVID-19, and after that season, she decided it was time for her to medically retire from the sport given how taxing the sport was on her body and mental health. She has since remained with the team and is now serving as an Undergrad Assistant Coach.
She decided it was important to her to share her story and spread awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues in the realm of athletics. She began a blog for herself to write down her thoughts, and it took on a life of its own. She has since expanded the blog so that it not only represents her own experiences, but the experiences of other female athletes who have different perspectives and struggles.
Katie Grace is passionate about mental health, sports, her two dogs, Poppy and River, and her family. She plans to take a gap year to continue developing this platform while also preparing for the LSAT which will set her up to begin law school in the Fall of 2022.