Episode #191 - Danny O’Connor
In this powerful episode, Kat chats with Danny O’Connor to discuss the hidden reality of eating disorders in weight-class sports and the devastating impact they can have on athletes behind the scenes.
Danny shares the story behind his memoir, WEIGHT CLASS — a raw and deeply personal account of battling an eating disorder throughout his wrestling, Olympic, and professional boxing career. In sports where extreme weight-cutting is normalized, what looked like discipline from the outside became a decades-long cycle of starvation, dehydration, purging, and silence.
Together, we discuss:
The culture of weight-cutting in sports
Why eating disorders in male athletes are so often overlooked
The mental and physical toll of silence and shame
Recovery, identity, and rebuilding life after sport
What parents, coaches, and athletes need to know
This conversation is honest, emotional, and necessary. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or someone struggling silently yourself, Danny’s story serves as both a warning and a lifeline.
You can connect with Danny on IG here
Find Danny's book here
Connect with Morgan’s Message on Instagram here
Learn more about Morgan’s Message here
Submit your story for The Mental Matchup here
