Scott was born in Toledo and adopted by Dorothy and Ernest S. Hamilton, both professors at Bowling Green State University. Plagued by a childhood illness that stunted his growth, he began figure skating at age 9. From a young age, Hamilton displayed an extraordinary talent for figure skating, captivating audiences with his unmatched skill and infectious enthusiasm.

When Scott was a teenager, his mother Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued to be Scott’s biggest cheerleader, watching him skate to victory at the 1976 Junior National Championships while receiving chemo and shortly after surgery to remove her left breast. The 1977 National Championships were the last time Dorothy would watch Scott skate - she passed away later that year.

“My mom was the center of my universe. I asked myself ‘how can I honor her?’ and she became the voice in my head, always with me in spirit. I was accountable to her - I would show up and work hard. She was my reality check - how did you do today? ‘Eh, you could’ve done better.’”

In 1980, Scott secured a position on the US Olympic Team by finishing third at US Championships and was chosen to be the US Flag Bearer for the opening ceremony. A strong 5th place finish set Scott up for a streak of victories starting in October of 1980 and ending in March of 1984 which included 4 US Championships, 4 World Championships and the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal - a feat that hasn’t been repeated since. His winning streak was not only a display of athletic prowess but also a symbol of overcoming obstacles and defying the odds.

“The grief of losing my mother to cancer and how much I loved her was the catalyst for everything that happened afterward. The morning I lost her, I wondered how I could do anything without her. I figured out that I didn’t have to, and I carried her with me every day.”

Scott went on to a professional career that included 2 years of touring with the Ice Capades, leading to his creation of Stars on Ice which he starred in for the next 15 years. As a television broadcaster, Scott has covered countless competitions including 9 Olympic Winter Games. Scott continues to share his love and enthusiasm for skating as an analyst/commentator, producer, and best-selling author.

Scott's journey took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997, 20 years after losing his mother to cancer. This initial diagnosis was followed by brain tumors in 2004, 2010, and 2016. Once again, he faced adversity head-on, undergoing treatment with the same tenacity and grace that defined his skating career. After beating cancer, Hamilton dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for cancer research and patient support.

Scott founded several education and survivorship programs including Chemocare.com and the 4th Angel Mentoring Program before launching his own charitable foundation, the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, in 2014. To honor Scott’s crowd thrilling backflips, his CARES Foundation’s logo is an upside-down cancer ribbon. It’s also reminiscent of an unfinished figure 8, a common shape in figure skating, to represent the work that is still needed in the fight against cancer.

Beyond his work with his CARES Foundation, Scott continues to inspire others through his motivational speaking engagements and as a best-selling author. He is the founder of the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy at the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch, Bellevue, and Clarksville, Tennessee, where he may frequently be found sharing his lover of sharing. In what free time remains, Scott can be found on the golf course and enjoys spending time with his wife Tracie and their four children.

Scott Hamilton's legacy extends far beyond the ice rink. He is a beacon of hope for cancer patients and survivors worldwide, proving that even in the face of adversity, there is always reason to believe in a brighter future.

“People think CARES came out of my cancer journey, but it has always been about my mom. I took her love, selflessness, and determination with me into my everyday life on and off the ice, and I tried to do what she loved the most - pour into my community, serve the next generation, and make the world better just by being in it. And that is what my CARES Foundation is, it’s my effort to make the journey easier for the next person and make sure no teenager has to be without their mom.”