Nicholas Salvatore Scandone
Champion
March 3, 1966-January 2, 2009



US Sailing Gold Medallist Nick Scandone - Sharing the Good

'An elated Nick Scandone arrives home' Lynn Fitzpatrick Click Here to view large photo
He woke up, looked at his wife, Mary Kate, took his oxygen mask off, gave her a kiss and told her that he loved her. He put the oxygen mask back on and passed away.

Nick Scandone was clear and deliberate about a lot of things and one of them was that he did not want to be remembered for his declining state of health.

He wanted to be remembered for his accomplishments throughout his life. His last moments, however, sum it all up. Nick always seemed to do the right thing, especially when it came to family and friends.

For years he focused on a Gold Medal. It kept him alive. It gave many of us, especally his supporters at Balboa Yacht Club, a champion. Mary Kate was always his number one admirer and was with him through thick and thin.

Two of his most ardent supporters, his mother, who introduced him to sailing, and his sister passed away before seeing Nick achieve his dream. His bonds with his father and his brother, flourished as his physical state weakened and his resolve grew.

Nick's extended family expanded to a worldwide community of sailors and people who recognized him as a hero, a champion in life who looked death in the face everyday for six and a half years.

Before Nick left for the Paralympics he said that he was looking forward to returning home to peace and quiet and sharing his medal with his friend and family 'because in the end, they are what is important.'


Gold medallist in the SKUD18 Maureen McKinnon-Tucker and Nick Scandone of USA celebrate - 2008 Paralympics - Qingdao - Sailing2008.com
His band of family, friends and coaches trailed his 500-pound wheelchair around the Olympic Village in Qingdao, China this summer and all of the other SKUD 18's , followed Nick and Maureen McKinnon Tucker around the race course.

Each day the duo distanced themselves from the rest of the fleet, mathematically winning the Gold Medal without needing to sail the last two races of the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Regatta.

Everyone routed for Nick; even his competitors. Unprecedented at any Medal Ceremony, all six SKUD 18 Medalists clasped hands and accepted applause from the crowd in unison.

Nick shared the ups with all and sheltered us from the downs. Nick Scandone did just what he set his mind to do. He won the Gold. He shared his victory with friends, family and the rest of the world. He, Mary Kate, Vince (his brother) and Mike Pinckney (his coach) returned to Newport Beach, CA to a hero's welcome at the airport and at Balboa Yacht Club. Everywhere Nick went, whether it was to a Ducks hockey game, a UCI alumni even a sailing clinic - he was an inspiration and he shared his winning ways.


Nick Scandone and Maureen Mckinnon-Tucker on their way to winning a Gold medal in Qingdao - Lynn Fitzpatrick Click Here to view large photo



Nick Scandone

1988 Sabot National Champion
1988 Collegiate Nation Champion (UCI)
1988 Collegiat All American
1991 470 North American Champion
2004 Independence Cup Champion
2005 Independence Cup Champion
2005 2.4 Meter World Champion (Open Class)
2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year
2007 IFDS World Champion - SKUD 18
2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist - SKUD 18
2008 US Sailing Yachtsman of the Year Nominee

A friend, a sailor, an inspiration, a winner and a tremendous loss to all.


Nick Scandone and Maureen Mckinnon-Tucker after winning the Gold medla in the SKUD 18 class - 2008 Paralympics, Qingdao - Dan Tucker Click Here to view large photo

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Paralympic Gold Medallist Nick SCANDONE Loses Battle With ALS

US SAILING News


US Paralympic gold medallist Nick SCANDONE, 42, passed away Friday, after a long battle with ALS, also commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Nick SCANDONE won a coveted gold medal with teammate Maureen MCKINNON-TUCKER (USA) in the Two-Person Keelboat - SKUD18 event at the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition in Qingdao, China, this past summer.

“The sport of sailing has lost a great competitor and the most inspirational person most of us will ever know,” said Dean BRENNER, Chairman of US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Program. “Words can’t describe the pride so many people felt watching Nick take the last few steps towards his dream in China last summer. He was a gold medallist on and off the water, and we’ll miss him dearly.”

SCANDONE beat the odds of his disease by not only being strong enough to compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games, but by winning the gold medal a day early, with two races left to go. “It’s been such a long road to get [to the 2008 Games],” said SCANDONE after he won. “It’s emotionally overwhelming for me to finally realize my goal.”
There were countless days filled with doubt, exhaustion and adversity, but he and MCKINNON-TUCKER met each challenge with incredible strength and determination. SCANDONE was a US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member, named US SAILING’s 2008 Sportsman of the Year, nominated for US SAILING’s 2008 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtsman of the Year award and winner of US SAILING’s 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award.

For more information and background on Nick SCANDONE, please click here read his bio on the US SAILING website.

http://www.sailing.org/26602.php