Stories From The Olympics - Chasing The Medals Over The Finish Line

There are many great Olympic stories out there. Still, one worth mentioning revolves around Scout Bassett-- a 32-year old sprinter dealing with a foot injury, struggles from the global pandemic, and a postponement of the Olympic Games in 2020. But despite all of the challenges, she persevered in chasing her dreams to cross the finish line in a chance to grab a USA Olympic medal.

Scout Bassett’s Journey For The Gold

Scout Bassett lost one of her legs in a chemical fire in China and was abandoned as an infant shortly after. She remained in an orphanage until she turned 7, after which she was adopted by a loving family who brought her to live in the U.S. Growing up in Harbor Springs, Michigan, was not always easy. In addition to learning a new culture, she also had to learn how to find where she fit in and gain acceptance. Overall, she lacked direction and self-confidence.

When she turned 14, the Challenged Athletes Foundation gave her a grant for a running prosthetic, which allowed her to explore new avenues for her future. She ran for the first time without feeling like she was limited in any way, and at this point, her dreams of becoming a professional runner were starting to take shape. Her school was one of the smaller ones in the area, and as a result, they didn't have a track team. Instead, she trained independently and started running in 5K's until she had enough endurance to join marathons.

From College Track To The Olympic Team

Once she started college at UCLA, she joined the official team to continue honing her passion. The director of the U.S. Paralympic noticed her stellar performance and recruited her right away. More than just a passion, being recruited allowed Scout Bassett to realize her dreams. She competed in worldwide competitions securing 5th place in the 100 meters plus landing the 10th place spot in the long jump, both during the Paralympic Games in Rio of 2016. She secured two bronze medals in 2017 and two spots in the top 10 in 2019. Her story is essential for runners of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. No matter who or where you are, you can achieve anything if you have desire and dedication.

How Scout Bassett Stays Motivated

It is easy to see the result of years of hard work, but getting to the end is not always easy. There are plenty of tough workouts, failures, and even setbacks that can make reaching the Olympic goal seem impossible. Scout states that community support and the support of her family play a significant role in her success. Peloton workouts, Yoga classes, and HIIT training help her keep her body in peak conditions and ready to compete. Her story is the encouragement future generations need to stay inspired to chase their dreams on the Olympic track.

← Previous Post Next Post →