PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (August 27, 2009) - US SAILING, the national governing
body for the sport, has announced the winner of its National Sportsmanship
award, the W. Van Alan Clark Jr. Trophy, to the late Nick Scandone (Fountain
Valley, Calif.). Today, US SAILING’s Executive Director, Charlie Leighton
(pictured), presented the national sportsmanship award to Nick Scandone’s
wife, Mary Kate (pictured), following the awards ceremony for the C. Thomas
Clagett, Jr. Memorial Regatta (a sanctioned event for disabled sailors) at
Fort Adams in Newport, R.I.
The 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist passed away January 2, 2009, after a long
battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative
disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. An avid
sailor since he was a child, Scandone reached his ultimate goal of winning a
Paralympic gold medal this past summer in Qingdao, China with SKUD-18
teammate Maureen McKinnon-Tucker. 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.
Leighton mentioned in his presentation that, “In the words of those who
nominated this year’s winner, Nick served as an example of a person who not
only played his sport well within the parameters of the rules, but
encouraged others to do the same. He was humble about his achievements,
accepting honors and awards quietly, while speaking from the heart. Nick
showed interest in each person, not just in the race results of the day.
Nick’s record of loyalty to his teammates and self-sacrifice at the highest
level of sailing competition made the committee’s decision, in the end, an
easy one.”
“Nick was a driving force in Paralympic sailing and an amazing example to
all of us that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it regardless
of the challenges that may stand in your way,” said Betsy Alison, 2008
Paralympic Team Head Coach. “It’s a fitting tribute that this award be
presented at the Clagett Memorial Regatta. He spent so many memorable
moments with some of these sailors, and contributed to bringing in sailors
to compete at these events.”
Scandone becomes the first disabled sailor to win US SAILING’s W. Van Alan
Clark, Jr. Sportsmanship Trophy. He joins a long list of highly respected
sailors who have received the award since the award was first presented 20
years ago. The list includes such well-known sailors as Olin J. Stephens,
Dave Perry, Harry Carpenter, and Buddy Melges.
Sportsmanship is difficult to define but easily recognizable. The high
standards exemplified by the true sportsperson are vital to the health of
sailing, which is why each year US SAILING presents its prestigious W. Van
Alan Clark, Jr. Trophy. This award honors those people who are outstanding
examples of dedication and graciousness in the sport of sailing, and for
sharing these talents with others. Nominees include sailors who have
performed a single exemplary act or who have consistently exemplified the
finest tradition of the sport both on and off the water, through instruction
and encouragement of others.
[Ed. Nick Scandone, a member of Balboa
Yacht Club and Lido 14 Fleet 1, won the
1998 and
2000 Lido 14 Class Championships.]