Scott Hamilton (figure skater)

Hamilton was born on August 28, 1958, in Bowling Green, Ohio.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/253417/Scott-Hamilton |title=Scott Hamilton: American Figure Skater |author=((Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica )) |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=May 26, 2017}} He was adopted at the age of six weeks by Dorothy (née McIntosh), a professor, and Ernest S. Hamilton, a professor of biology,{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/80/Scott-Hamilton.html |title=Scott Hamilton Biography (1958-) |publisher=filmreference.com}} and raised in Bowling Green, Ohio. He has two siblings, older sister Susan (his parents' biological daughter) and younger brother Steven (who was also adopted).{{cite web |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ham0int-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302162619/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ham0int-1 |archive-date=2010-03-02 |title=Scott Hamilton Interview |date=June 29, 1996 |publisher=Academy of Achievement}} He attended Kenwood Elementary School. When Hamilton was two years old, he contracted a mysterious illness that caused him to stop growing. After numerous tests and several wrong diagnoses (including a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis that gave him just six months to live), the disease began to correct itself. His family physician sent him to Boston Children's Hospital to see Dr. Shwachman. He was told the doctor had no idea what was wrong and to go home and stop the diets in order to live a normal life. Years later, it was determined that a congenital brain tumor was the root cause of his childhood illness.{{cite web |url=http://www.peaksp.com/SportsPsychology/Articles/Content/2038/parents/Words-From-A-Champion---Scott-Hamilton |title=Words From a Champion: Scott Hamilton}} At the peak of his amateur career Hamilton weighed {{convert|108|lb|kg}} and was {{convert|5|ft|2.5|in|m|sigfig=3}} tall,{{cite news |title=John Brannon: Step aside world … here comes Sarah |author=John Brannon |url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/03/04/1052896_john-brannon-step-aside-world.html |newspaper=The Tribune |date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113061704/http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/03/04/1052896_john-brannon-step-aside-world.html |archive-date=November 13, 2013}} but eventually grew to a height of {{convert|5|ft|4|in|m|sigfig=3}}.iTunes Otter Creek Church podcast July 22, 2012 Can I Get a Witness?: The Things That Ruin - Joshua Graves and Scott Hamilton and Tracie Hamilton. Scott, "Wikipedia doesn't always get it right. I'm 5'4"." https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/otter-creek-church/id175107775

At age 13, Hamilton began training with Pierre Brunet, a former Olympic champion. In 1976, however, he was almost forced to quit skating because the cost of training was too high and he enrolled in college. However, Helen and Frank McLoraine stepped in to provide financial support for Hamilton to continue his training. Hamilton would later work with the McLoraines in continuing philanthropic support for figure skating. Hamilton attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The former First Street in Bowling Green was named Scott Hamilton Avenue in his honor.

Image:Scott-Hamilton-Stars-on-Ice.jpg tour]]

In 1980, Hamilton finished third in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning him a place on the U.S. Olympic team. At this time, Don Laws was coaching him.{{Cite web |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/1214/121424.html |title=Working up whimsical, new routine a 'big test' for skater Scott Hamilton |last=Stivers Leach |first=Melinda |date=December 14, 1982 |website=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=June 13, 2019}} He finished in fifth place at the 1980 Winter Olympics, where he also had the honor of carrying the American flag in the opening ceremony. His breakthrough performance was in the 1981 U.S. Championships. He performed flawlessly and the audience began a standing ovation several seconds before the end of the performance. He never lost an amateur competition again. In 1981 he won gold in the World Figure Skating Championships.{{Cite web |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0312/031233.html |title=Hamilton-Santee figure skating rivalry over, or is it? |last=Walter |first=Claire |date=March 12, 1981 |website=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=June 13, 2019}} During the long program, he received scores of 5.8s and 5.9s for technical merit and 5.7s at 5.9s for artistic impression out of a perfect score of 6.0. He started the long program off with a triple Lutz jump, his most consistent and hardest jump.{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Olympic-training-760104 |title=Scott Hamilton: Training for Olympic Gold |last=Hamilton |first=Scott |date=August 23, 2002 |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=June 13, 2019}} He performed a strong program in spite of a minor flub. He won gold again in 1982 and 1983 at the U.S. and World Championships.

At the 1984 Olympics,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/17/sports/hamilton-wins-gold-medal-in-figure-skating.html |title=Hamilton Wins Gold Medal in Figure Skating |date=February 17, 1984 |website=The New York Times |access-date=June 13, 2019}} he won the compulsory figures and placed second in the short program. For the long program, he planned five jumps: a triple Lutz, a triple flip, a triple toe loop in combination with a double loop, a triple toe walley and a triple Salchow. He completed only three of them, missing the triple flip and the triple Salchow. For technical merit, the nine judges gave him three 5.6's, two 5.7's, three 5.8's and a 5.9. For artistic impression, he received four 5.8's and five 5.9's. Brian Orser won the long program and Hamilton was second, but Hamilton won the gold medal because Orser was too far back in the overall standings to catch Hamilton after placing 7th in the compulsory figures, which at the time accounted for 30% of the total score. Hamilton's victory ended a 24-year gold medal drought for US men in Olympic figure skating.{{Cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1922277-us-olympic-figure-skating-ranking-the-top-20-moments-of-all-time#slide11 |title=US Olympic Figure Skating: Ranking the Top 20 Moments of All Time |last=McMahon |first=James |date=February 5, 2014 |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=June 13, 2019}} He did not attempt the triple Axel jump, a more difficult jump which other skaters in the competition landed.{{Cite web |url=https://deadspin.com/has-figure-skating-maxed-out-in-difficulty-1522941275 |title=Has Figure Skating Maxed Out In Difficulty? |last=Meyers |first=Dvora |date=February 14, 2014 |website=Dead Spin |access-date=June 13, 2019}} He won that year's World Championships and then turned professional in April 1984.

File:Scott-Hamilton-Golf.jpg

Figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum, in her critique of male figure skating, called the costumes Hamilton wore during the 1984 Olympics an attempt to mitigate the "erotic affect"{{Cite book |last=Kestnbaum |first=Ellyn |title=Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning |publisher=Wesleyan Publishing Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-8195-6641-1 |location=Middleton, Connecticut |pages=186}} of the one-piece, Disco-influenced outfits popular with many male skaters at the time. She described Hamilton's costumes as "simple stretch suits in one color ornamated only by a simple geometic shape in a contasting color", which resembled a warm-up or speed skating suit that emphasized the "acceptable male sport aspect" of figure skating.

After turning professional, Hamilton toured with the Ice Capades for two years, and then created "Scott Hamilton's American Tour," which later was renamed Stars on Ice. He co-founded, co-produced and performed in Stars on Ice for 15 years before retiring from the tour in 2001 (though he still returns for occasional guest performances).

As a professional, Hamilton often performed his signature backflip, a movement that is sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), the organization that governs figure skating. Kestnbaum states that it was "an acknowledgement of the illegality of the move" to the ISU .Kestnbaum, p. 194

He has been awarded numerous skating honors, including being the first solo male figure skater to be awarded the Jacques Favart Award (in 1988). In 1990 he was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

Hamilton was a skating commentator for CBS television for many years, beginning in 1985. He has also worked for NBC television. In 2006 he was the host of the FOX television program Skating with Celebrities. He currently serves on the board of directors for Special Olympics International.

Hamilton voiced the dog dancing commentator on the King of the Hill episode "Dances with Dogs".{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} He was also seen in the 2008 The Fairly OddParents episode "The Fairy Oddlympics" as Timmy Turner's co-host.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

He appeared on the August 26, 2008 episode of Wanna Bet?, where he finished 2nd, losing to Bill Engvall. In 2009, he appeared in the second season of Celebrity Apprentice.[https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/08/arts/AP-TV-Celebrity-Apprentice.html?_r=1 Trump Rounds Up Celebs for New Season of the Apprentice] NY Times, January 8, 2009

He made a small appearance on Roseanne as himself, participating in a mock linoleum skating competition credit sequence.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} He also made a brief appearance in the film Blades of Glory.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445934/characters/nm0358156 | title=Blades of Glory (2007) - IMDb | website=IMDb }}

On March 8, 2010, Scott Hamilton: Return to the Ice premiered on the Bio Channel. The two-hour television special chronicled Hamilton's return to skating after battling cancer.{{cite news |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=BIO Chanel Presents "Scott Hamilton: Return to the Ice" On Monday March 8 |work=TV by the Numbers |date=2010-02-20 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/08/bio-chanel-presents-scott-hamilton-return-to-the-ice-on-monday-march-8/41348 |access-date=2010-04-10}}

In 1999, Hamilton wrote the book Landing It, in which he talks about his life on & off the ice. In 2009, Hamilton wrote the book The Great Eight, which shared the secrets to his happiness and how he overcame numerous challenges and disappointments throughout his life.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} In 2018, he wrote the book Finish First: Winning Changes Everything (publisher: Thomas Nelson), about the value of competition.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

On November 14, 2002, he married Tracie Robinson, a nutritionist. The couple welcomed their first son in 2004 and a second son in 2008.{{Cite web |title=Scott Hamilton welcomes second son, Maxx Thomas |url=https://people.com/parents/scott-hamilton-2/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}} Later in 2013, the couple adopted two orphaned brothers from Haiti.{{Cite web |title=How Scott and Tracie Hamilton Adopted Siblings Orphaned in the 2010 Haitian Earthquake (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/why-scott-and-tracie-hamilton-adopted-siblings-orphaned-in-the-2010-haitian-earthquake-exclusive-8599767 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}} The family resides in Franklin, Tennessee.{{cite web |access-date=2018-02-21 |title=Scott Hamilton: The Gold Medalist |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/home/article/13063492/scott-hamilton |first=J.R. |last=Lind |date=March 17, 2016 |work=Nashville Scene}}

Hamilton is a Christian and has said about his faith, "I understand that through a strong relationship with Jesus you can endure anything... God is there to guide you through the tough spots. God was there every single time, every single time."{{cite web |title=How Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton Found Jesus |work=Christian Post |last=Kumar |first=Anugrah |date=January 28, 2012 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-olympic-gold-medalist-scott-hamilton-found-jesus-68160/}}

In 1997, Hamilton had a much-publicized battle with testicular cancer.{{cite web |access-date=2018-02-18 |url=https://www.webmd.com/scott-hamilton |publisher=WebMD |title=Scott Hamilton |work=WebMD Biography |year=2012}} Hamilton was initially concerned that he may have been rendered infertile following his cancer treatment, but later went on to father two children.{{Cite web |title=Brain Cancer Survivor Scott Hamilton |url=https://www.patientresource.com/Brain_Cancer_Survivor_Scott_Hamilton#:~:text=Scott%20also%20explored%20fertility%20issues,the%20front%20end%20of%20treatment. |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.patientresource.com}} He made a return to skating after his treatment and his story was featured in magazines and on television.{{cite news |access-date=2018-02-18 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/16/sports/figure-skating-his-cancer-in-remission-hamilton-is-back-on-ice.html |date=September 16, 1997 |title=Figure Skating; His Cancer in Remission, Hamilton Is Back on Ice |first=Jere |last=Longman |work=New York Times}}{{cite news |access-date=2018-02-18 |title=Scott Hamilton Leads With His Heart: The Skater and His 'Stars on Ice' Get a Feeling for Expressing Emotions |date=January 15, 1998 |first=Libby |last=Slat |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-15-ca-8416-story.html}} It was announced on November 12, 2004, that Hamilton had a benign brain tumor, which was treated at the Cleveland Clinic.{{cite web |url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Scott_Hamilton.html |title=How To Skate on Thin Ice |year=2008 |work=Ability Magazine |access-date=2012-04-03}}

On June 23, 2010, Hamilton had brain surgery to prevent the recurrence of the benign tumor discovered in 2004. Called craniopharyngioma, the tumor could have caused blindness if left untreated. The surgery was successful.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20396952,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628140945/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20396952,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2010 |title=Scott Hamilton Resting Comfortably after Brain Surgery |author=Oh, Eunice |date=June 24, 2010 |work=People}} In November 2010, Hamilton was in the hospital again. During the removal of the tumor, an artery in the brain was "nicked". The bleeding stopped, but an aneurysm formed days later. Hamilton came through the surgery well.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20445123,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127224449/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20445123,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2010 |title=Scott Hamilton Bouncing Back After Brain Surgery, Aneurysm |last=Benet |first=Lorenzo |date=November 26, 2010 |work=People}}

In 2016, Hamilton announced that he had received his third brain tumor diagnosis.{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Jeff |title=Olympic Skater Scott Hamilton Facing Third Brain Tumor Diagnosis: 'I Choose to Celebrate Life' |url=http://people.com/sports/scott-hamilton-facing-third-brain-tumor-diagnosis/ |website=PEOPLE |access-date=October 21, 2016}} In late March 2017, he stated that the tumor had shrunk without chemo.{{cite web |url=http://qpolitical.com/months-rumors-olympian-skater-scott-hamilton-finally-breaks-silence/ |title=After Months Of Rumors, Olympian Skater Scott Hamilton Finally Breaks His Silence |work=Qpolitical |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064333/http://www.qpolitical.com/months-rumors-olympian-skater-scott-hamilton-finally-breaks-silence/ |archive-date=2018-02-25 |url-status=dead}}

In 1990, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation honored its 10th birthday, Hamilton was recognized as the Foundation's first ever "Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year."{{cite web |access-date=2018-02-21 |url=http://greertoday.com/greer-sc/scott-hamilton-headlines-taylors-free-medical-clinic-fundraiser/2012/05/19/ |work=Greer Today |title=Scott Hamilton headlines Taylors Free Medical Clinic |date=May 19, 2012}}{{cite news |access-date=2018-02-12 |title=The Make-A-Wish Foundation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/136579293/ |work=Democrat and Chronicle |location=Rochester, New York |page=94 |date=February 20, 2002 |quote=Make-A-Wish Foundation.... 1990: First Celebrity Wish Grantor of the Year Award is given to Olympic gold medalist skater Scott Hamilton}}

He founded the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation to assist with cancer patient support.{{cite news |access-date=2018-02-18 |url=http://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0210/348013.html |date=February 14, 2000 |title=Hamilton helping others beat cancer |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN}} He has been a longtime volunteer with the Special Olympics and currently serves as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador.{{cite web |url=http://media.specialolympics.org/soi/files/resources/AnnualReports/Special_Olympics_2012_Annual_Report-full.pdf |work=Special Olympics Annual Report 2012 |title=Special Olympics Ambassadors |page=42}} Hamilton has also helped benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, of which he is an honorary board member.{{cite web |url=https://www.themmrf.org/about-mmrf/mmrf-leadership/honorary-board/ |publisher=Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation |title=Honorary Board |access-date=February 15, 2008}}

• 1985 – Hamilton was presented the 1984 Most Courageous Athlete Award by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.{{cite web |title='Most Courageous Athlete Award' - Memorable Moments |date=January 14, 2009 |publisher=Philadelphia Sports Writers Association |url=http://pswadinner.com/?p=306 |access-date=2012-04-29}} Note: The winners of the Most Courageous Award for 1977, 1979, 1984, 1986, and 1991 are listed in the cited article with the incorrect year, i.e., the year that follows the award year. (The awards dinner and presentation occur in January or February of the year following the award year.)
• 1993 - The Associated Press released results of a national sports study in which Hamilton ranked as one of the top eight most popular athletes in America, ranking far ahead of big-name sports stars such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Troy Aikman, Dan Marino, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and Nolan Ryan.Wilstein, Steve (June 17, 1994), The Associated Press
• 1996 - Hamilton was presented the United States Sports Academy's Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award in recognition of his courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sport.{{cite web |url=http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/story/2731322/ |publisher=WRAL Sports Fan |title=Coach Yow Receives Courage Award From U.S. Sports Academy |date=April 14, 2008 |quote=Past recipients have included Rocky Bleier, Jim Abbott, Lance Armstrong, Roy Campanella and Scott Hamilton.}}
• 1996 - Hamilton received the Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award.{{cite web |access-date=2018-02-18 |url=http://www.achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports |publisher=achievement.org |title=Golden Plate Awardees: Sports}}
• 2023 - Hamilton received the Kurt Thomas Foundation Flair Award
• 2025 - ISU Skating Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=ISU Figure Skating Awards 2025: The Winners are revealed! |url=https://www.isu.org/news/isu-figure-skating-awards-2025-the-winners-are-revealed/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=International Skating Union}}

{{reflist|25em}}{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Kurt Thomas |title=2023 Winner - Scott Hamilton |url=https://kurtthomasfoundation.com/foundation-award-winners/f/announcing-the-2023-ktf-gala |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Kurt Thomas Foundation |language=en-US}}

{{portal|biography}}

• {{cite book |last=Hamilton |first=Scott |author2=Ken Baker |title=The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to Be Miserable) |year=2008 |publisher=Thomas Nelson |isbn=978-0-7852-2894-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/greateighthowtob00hami}}
• {{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Scott |first2=Lorenzo |last2=Benet |title=Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice |year=1999 |publisher=Kensington Books |isbn=1-57566-466-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/landingitmylifeo00hami}}

{{commons category|Scott Hamilton}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=scott-hamilton|old_id=Scott-Hamilton|archive=20230720073227}}
• {{Olympics.com profile}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{IMDb name}}
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626061004/https://www.nbcolympics.com/commentator/5088465/detail.html |date=June 26, 2006 |title=NBCOlympics.com - Commentator - Scott Hamilton}}
• {{YouTube|QCapfwISfAU|Kurt Browning, Scott Hamilton, Paul Wylie - Masters of Footwork on Ice}}

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| title = United States Flagbearer

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Category:1958 births

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