Olympic Runner Suzy Favor Hamilton Worked as Escort in Vegas

Dec. 20, 2012— -- Former U.S. Olympian and decorated middle-distance runner Suzy Favor Hamilton said today that she had worked as a high-paid escort in Las Vegas for the past year.

In a story first reported by The Smoking Gun, Favor Hamilton, 44, said that she worked as an escort under the alias "Kelly Lundy" with Haley Heston Private Collection escort service based in Vegas.

According to the website advertising her services that was saved by The Smoking Gun, Favor Hamilton offered appointments to johns in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. She advertised her price as $600 for one hour or $1,400 for three hours.

Favor Hamilton, who lives with her husband and 7-year-old daughter in Madison, Wisc., makes frequent public appearances to discuss running, including motivational speeches and a spot in a Nike ad.

She told The Smoking Gun that her husband, Mark, 44, knew about her escort activities and did not approve.

"He tried, he tried to get me to stop. He wasn't supportive of this at all," she told them.

After the report was published this morning, Favor Hamilton took to her Twitter account to apologize publicly.

"I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life," she wrote.

"I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me. I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend."

Favor Hamilton wrote on Twitter that she was going through depression when she decided to become an escort and used it as a means of escape, and that she is currently seeing a psychologist.

In an email to ABC News, Favor-Hamilton wrote that her Twitter statements were her only comment on the story, but did add, "Trying my best to get better."

The phone number for Haley Heston Private Collection, listed as the contact information on Favor-Hamilton's escort profile, was answered by a woman who said, "This is Haley." She declined to comment on The Smoking Gun story and said she could not confirm the details in The Smoking Gun's report.

Favor Hamilton competed in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, without medaling in any of the races. She did win seven National Track & Field Championships, including three outdoor 1,500 meters, and was a nine-time NCAA champion while an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin.