The personification of ‘Get Up’ Scott Hamilton launches U.S. Figure Skating campaign in the face of recurring tumor The news spread quickly in figure


skating circles and beyond: Scott Hamil- ton’s brain tumor is back. For the fourth time since 1997, the


affable Olympic champion and TV ana- lyst beloved by millions has a fight on his hands. And yes, Scott wants you to know he


again will fight with faith and fortitude — because when Scott Hamilton gets knocked down, he gets up. How ironic, then, that Hamilton


agreed to be the very public face of U.S. Figure Skating’s new Get Up campaign, which launched Oct. 21 to coincide with 2016 Progressive Skate America. Hamilton announced the cam- paign during a live broadcast of NBC’s “Today” show in New York. Hours later, he disclosed to People magazine that his brain tumor had returned. Originally diagnosed and treated in 2004, a be- nign pituitary tumor returned in 2010 and recently presented itself again in a routine checkup. “I have a unique hobby of collecting


life-threatening illness,” Hamilton said. “It’s six years later, and it decided that it wanted an encore.” In addition to his humor, Hamilton


also has a unique ability to overcome life’s biggest challenges. Hamilton’s story is well known: As


a boy, doctors could not correctly di- agnose why his growth was severely stunted. (Future diagnosis revealed the effects of the recurring pituitary tumor.) They surmised that exercise would be helpful for the boy, so Hamilton turned to figure skating at age 9 and eventually became the 1984 Olympic champion. In 1997, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and later battled the two brain tumors. Through it all, Hamilton has always


gotten up. And he expects others to do the same. “The first thing I teach skaters at my


skating academy is how to get up, be- cause we’re going to fall,” he said. “And that’s how I live my life: I’m going to fall down, I’m going to make mistakes, I’m going to do all kinds of things that I’m going to wish didn’t happen. But it’s what’s next — it’s how you get up. The more times you get up, the stronger you are to face the next thing, which will happen, because that’s life.” In spite of the recent diagnosis, Hamilton and his wife, Tracie, choose to


Watch Scott announce the Get Up campaign on the “Today” show. http://usfigu.re/HamiltononToday


hold fast to their faith and are projecting a positive outlook for their four children, who range in age from 8 to 15 years old. “When this one (tumor) came back,


my 12-year-old son — my oldest biologi- cal son — he came to me and he said, ‘Is your brain tumor back?’” Hamilton said. “And I go, ‘Yeah. And, you know, here we go again.’ So I set the tone.” While symptoms related to the tu-


mor have yet to affect his everyday life, Hamilton said he is exploring multiple treatment options. “I’ll tell anybody that will listen: If


you’re ever facing anything, get as many opinions as you possibly can,” he said. “The more you truly understand what you’re up against, the better decision you’re going to make.” And in true Scott Hamilton fashion,


Lester Holt of NBC News introduces Scott Hamilton on the set of the “Today” show, where he helped launch U.S. Figure Skating’s Get Up campaign.


28 DECEMBER 2016


he remains thankful for a life filled with love, success and even struggle. “I’ve been blessed beyond my wild- est imagination,” he said. “I would never even think to dream the stuff that I’ve been able to do. Last round, in 2010, I told Tracie, ‘God doesn’t owe me a day. I’m good. Whatever’s next is next.’ The blessings keep coming because we al- low them and we ask for them. “I choose to truly, in everything that


we do, celebrate life.”


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