Host Suzanne Reed joins Scott Hamilton, Olympic Gold medalist, cancer survivor, author and inspirational leader, to share his extraordinary story of perseverance, optimism, and the pursuit of purpose. This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, faith, and finding joy even in life’s most challenging moments.
Rise above Life’s Challenges
Scott’s life story is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. As a young child, he endured over four years battling a “mysterious illness,” an experience he believes shaped his independence and inner strength.
“I had to learn how to be on my own a lot,” Hamilton recalls, spending formative years in various hospitals.
“When you have to go through periods like that as a young person, that’s how you’re imprinted. That’s your worldview. And my worldview is always, there’s going to be another test. There’s going to be another period of fear.”
While that outlook may have prepared him for additional tests, it was the diagnosis that ultimately directed his early path to skating, one he describes as a “blessing.”
“I had three brain tumors, and it did a lot of mischief when I was little,” he shares. “I stayed little because of that, I guess. But it was a blessing, because without it, I never would’ve started skating. I never would’ve been my stature, which was perfect for what I wanted to do in that sport.”
Scott went on to win a gold medal in the 1984 Winter Olympics, then four consecutive World Championships and four consecutive U.S. Championships. Then in 1997, 50 cities into a 60-city tour, Scott decided to address the root problem of an ongoing abdominal pain.
It was cancer, again. “That was probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he shares. “It was probably the worst thing, and it was probably also the hardest thing, but it just stopped me in my tracks, and it made me sort of reevaluate everything.”
Suddenly, the Olympian was brought back to his early days in the hospital, and Hamilton was reminded of his approach to adversity.
“Adversity, it’s going to happen no matter what. It’s your attitude about it. It’s how you approach it and how you process it,” he says. “I’m not where I want to be right now but that’s not going to stop me.”
Don’t Quit; Redefine Your Purpose
What does retirement look like for Hamilton? “It’s constant and endless, and it takes on so many different shapes and forms,” he says. He doesn’t believe in retirement in the traditional sense, at least not retiring from something.
“It’s not healthy to retire from something; it’s healthy to retire to something,” he clarifies, encouraging others to view life’s transitions, personal and professional, as opportunities to grow and redefine our purpose.
“Somewhere in a drawer in Colorado Springs is my Olympic gold medal. Who cares?” he laughs. “It represents a moment, but that’s all it represents, just a moment.”
For Hamilton, while that moment may have passed, retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. It just means shifting his focus to something else meaningful. Whether it’s building the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy or spearheading cancer research initiatives through his foundation, he views every new chapter as an opportunity to create impact.
Part of the impact he hopes to create is to encourage others to redefine their purpose.
“Find joy in what you’re doing, and in that excellence will come,” he says. “Even if I’m not standing on the top of a podium, or even if I am not even good enough to maybe even be competitive in something athletic or whatever, I know that I’ve taken this as far as I can take it, and now there’s another hill to climb.”
Encouragement is a Legacy that Lasts
When asked about his legacy, Hamilton doesn’t focus on his Olympic gold medal or his many professional achievements. Instead, he highlights the importance of lifting others up.
“Legacy is sort of like a myth in a way,” he admits. “I could be a name in a history book that I won this, but nobody’s going to see it or understand it…It comes down to doing the best you can and hoping that you can make an impact in this world.”
Recounting an impactful moment with a young girl in South Korea who doubted her own abilities, Hamilton shares all it took was a simple conversation to help her see her own potential, sparking a transformative change.
“She went from being angry and frustrated to being light and joyful. Her eyes lit up when I suggested she might be an author,” he recalls. “Now, she’s writing for the Olympic Channel.” It’s a moment the Finish First author will never forget.
Hamilton’s approach is a reminder that encouragement can change lives, creating ripples far beyond our immediate circle.
Whether through mentoring, volunteering, or a kind word, we all have the power to leave a meaningful impact. “If we can all step back and encourage, that’s how we leave the world better than we found it,” he shares.
“And If I can be remembered for a short period of time as a serial optimist that just wanted to help people, then I think I’ve done the best I can with what I’ve got.”
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful message: resilience, purpose, and encouragement are the cornerstones of a life well lived.
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