Scout Bassett

The backstory:
Bassett was adopted by an American couple after spending 7 years in an orphanage located in Nanjing, China after a chemical fire that too her right leg. She moved to Michigan with her family in 1995 and got involved in sports to get connected with other students her age. Bassett tried numerous sports before finding out her passion and talent lied in competing in track and field. At 14 she got involved in the Challenged Athletes Foundation, began attending running clinics, and started working her way towards the Paralympics. Through the CAF, Bassett met prosthetist Stan Patterson who encouraged her to attend and run in her first Paralympic event. Before switching to track and field, Bassett won 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal as a member of the USA Paratriathlon team. She went on to compete in the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Track and Field London trials, placing 2^nd in the 200m and 3^rd in the 100m. In 2016 she achieved her goal of competing in the Rio Paralympic games after she qualified for both the 100m and long jump. Now she holds the world record in the 400m, the American record in both the 100m and 200m events and is a 3-time National Champion in the 100m.

Away from track:
When Bassett isn’t breaking records, she spends her time motivating others to follow her path and achieve their dreams. Holding titles of mentor, disability activists, athlete ambassador, and motivational speaker, she has had quite an influence on how people view amputees. Her story has been shared on multiple platforms, including an ESPN article featured in the 2019 Body Issue, and a feature on Glamor.com July 2020.

In their own words:
“Nothing compares to the exhilarating feeling of being able to move. It wasn’t about being first, it was about seeing what was possible.”

“I don’t want people to watch the Paralympics because it’s the right thing to do. I want people to watch because of how incredible these athletes are.”

“Our society cannot change the way we see people with disabilities and cannot create greater opportunities for them if we have this collective discomfort.”

“I was living out of my car for a year. When you take huge risks and leaps in your life and you’re willing to step out of your box and be uncomfortable, you will be eligible to reap huge rewards. I’m so humbled everything worked out.”

Learn More:
Team USA Page 
IPC Page
Glamour: “Paralympian Scout Bassett Won’t Be Tokenized”
Bridgestone Americas, Inc: “Scout Basset Para Track and Field”
ESPN: “Paralympian Scout Bassett Embraces Her Story of Scars, Survival”