Nacouzi Autistic?
RE: Injured runner not allowed to return to team for State qualifiers, wins FL West 12/11/2010 11:16AM - in reply to runintherain Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Having just watched Nacouzi's call-up for nationals, I truly believe she might be autistic or something. She looked very socially awkward as if she didn't know how to react while they were announcing her accomplishments. Maybe her issue with making practices/running on her own has something to do with autism or a legitimate condition that her coach should really consider. Something like autism would make it very hard to run with a team or understand a basic ultimatum like she was given.
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i've had some limited contact with julie for 5 years. i'm not a degreed personality expert but i do know people have varied degrees social-interaction sophistication and interpersonal skills, based on what is considered "normal". we don't all fit the "average" mold and know how to navigate the social arena with alacrity.
i don't know if julie has some clinically-identified neuro-psych idiosyncrasies, but she's clearly more on the shy, introverted side in public; yeah, maybe not average, but consider yourself at that age...nobody's a finished product, so people need to cut her some slack--it's EXTREMELY hard to be put on stage in the spotlight when you don't have the personality or skills that are at home in that environment. if, indeed, she interprets things such as rules and concepts somewhat differently than the norm, then coaches and teachers need to take that into account and find workable solutions.
it very well may be that she does not gravitate to being part of a large group, and finds equilibrium more as an individual or in one-on-on interactions, i don't know for sure.
it does appear she loves running and racing, so she just needs to continue to do that in a manner that is healthy and workable, and be who she is--a wonderful, unique, runner-girl who is admired by many...and, surely, by her family the most.