Suzy Favor Hamilton, 44, a former U.S. Olympian and decorated middle-distance runner said she had worked as a high-paid escort in Las Vegas for the past year.

Favor Hamilton confirmed what she called a "double life" after an online tabloid site, The Smoking Gun, reported the story on Thursday, including details that she had charged $600 an hour or $1,400 for three hours while working for a Las Vegas escort service.

Suzy Favor Hamilton told The Smoking Gun that her husband, Mark, knew about her escort activities and did not approve.

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

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.

After the report was published, 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 lives in Madison, Wisconsin, where she runs a real estate firm with her husband and does motivational speaking and promotional work for the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and the Disney running series.

The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association said on Friday it had terminated its agreement with Favor Hamilton, who helped promote potatoes as part of a healthy diet.

During the 2000 games, she ran into controversy when a Nike commercial depicting her attempting to outrun an attacker was pulled after the shoe company received complaints that the spot downplayed violence against women.

Favor Hamilton deliberately fell during the 2000 Sydney Olympics 1500-meter women's final. She revealed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in July that she fell on purpose after she realized that she could not win the race.

One of the country's best-ever middle-distance runners, Favor Hamilton won nine NCAA titles and 14 All-American awards during her illustrious career as a middle-distance runner. However, when she competed for the U.S. at the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000 she did not win a medal.

From an athlete’s perspective, dealing with depression after one retires from competitive sport is commonplace. Some find professional success in other industries, and a select few find success within the sports industry in television or radio. But many struggle emotionally or mentally with (1) a significant decrease in earnings and (2) a significant decrease in exposure, visibility, and external adoration.

No more national advertisements with the likes of Reebok, Clairol, Oakley and Pert Plus as she enjoyed in the past.

Source: Forbes, ABCnews, Yahoo Sports, InterAksyon news, Wikipedia

See the Photos allegedly from Suzy Favor Hamilton's profile at Haley Heston Private Collection Website