The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
As 42-year-old Nick Scandone and 43-year-old Maureen Mckinnon-Tucker were pushed away from the dock in Qingdao on Thursday, September 14, their coach and Scandone's childhood friend, Mike Pinckney, gave the same confidence builder that he has always given them, "Don't mess with the best, because the best don't mess."
Scandone, strapped in the helmsman's seat of the SKUD18 (2-Person Keelboat) and struggling for breath from the degeneration of his lungs, one of the final stages of amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), responded, "Let's go and end this."
When Scandone and Mckinnon-Tucker returned to the dock, not only did the entire US squad congratulate them, but so did sailors from every country and every fleet at the 2008 Paralympic Sailing competition. By sailing a perfect score for the day, the Americans did not have to sail the final races of the regatta. They had already secured the gold, thanks to top place finishes in earlier races of the series.
Both Scandone and McKinnon-Tucker believe that this goal of competing at the Paralympics was the beacon of light that helped push them through the pain of the recent years.
Scandone was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2002, when he went to the doctor to check on some back pain. He didn't really take in, until his health continued to worsen and he was forced to accept the facts. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease, affecting nerve cells in a progressively deteriorating manner. This means that yesterday, he was better than today, but tomorrow, he will be worse. There is no known cure for ALS, and those identified with the disease usually have an average life expectancy of 2-5 years after initial diagnosis. As of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Scandone has lost the use of his legs, and his arms appear weaker by the day.
A debilitating fall 13 years ago paralyzed McKinnon-Tucker from the waist down. During this Paralympic drive, she had to see her 2-year-old son undergo treatment for a brain tumor.
Even with all of these obstacles in their way, the pair fought their way through to qualify for the US Paralympic Sailing team with a first place finish at the 2007 US Trials.
Rather than give up Sailing after his diagnosis, Scandone chose to turn his back on his marketing career and follow his true calling. His spirit, coupled with the unwavering support of Sailing partner McKinnon-Tucker, earned them the admiration of Sailing and non-Sailing fans alike.
Their large team of supporters shared their feelings and emotions later that evening after their final sail.
Scandone's staunchest supporter, Mary Kate, his wife, kept from crying and said, "It has been four years of hard work and a lot of struggles and now it is time to go home and rest."
His brother, Vince, said, "They (Nick and Mary Kate) give each other support and make sacrifices for one another that everyone wishes they could have in a relationship."
Looking at his exhausted brother, reclined in his motorized wheelchair, Vince said, "This has everything to do with ability."
Although they had locked up the gold, and did not have to sail either of the final two races of the series, Scandone told Pinckney to rig the boat. Rig it up he did! Club burgees on the shrouds and American flags off the stern, Scandone went out in style...The Stars and Stripes on the spinnaker let all of the spectators know that Scandone and Mckinnon-Tucker were champs.
Their second place finish in the final race of Scandone's life enabled them to improve upon their total score for the regatta, because they were able to discard a third place finish sailed earlier in the series.
Tears were shed in the viewing stand as the American flag was raised and the Star Spangled Banner was played for McKinnon-Tucker and Scandone, who has outlived his life expectancy by two years by remaining steadfastly focused on winning the gold.
McKinnon-Tucker's gold engraves her name in history as the first female ever to win a Paralympic Sailing medal. "I'm very pleased to be the first woman ever to win a gold medal in Paralympic Sailing," she said.
Scandone would be the first to say that the gold belonged to everyone - Maureen McKinnon-Tucker and her family, friends and supporters; his wife, Mary Kate; his childhood friend and coach, Mike Pinckney; his brother, Vince; the rest of his family; the medical and coaching staff of US Sailing; and his mom.
Scandone's mother, who introduced him to Sailing, died during his Paralympic campaign and he never leaves the dock without a keepsake of her and Mike's encouraging words.
Nick Scandone will focus on the Closing Ceremony in Beijing, heading home to rest and thanking his supporters.
