For a second time, Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon are up as finalists for the Team USA Hall of Fame and are joined this year by Francis “Conn” Findlay. Voting is open March 25 through April 14 and the public is invited to vote once a day at TeamUSA.com/HOF. The Team USA Hall of Fame inducts a new class every two years and currently holds 119 Olympians and Paralympians, 11 teams, five coaches, and 19 special contributors.
About Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon
Nick (1966-2009) and Maureen were finalists for the Hall of Fame in 2022 for their Gold medal in the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and are in the running again for the Class of 2025! Nick is the only Paralympic sailor to win the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award in 2005 for his win in the 2.4 Meter Open Worlds, and when his ALS limited his physical ability even further, he teamed up with Maureen in the SKUD-18. Maureen went on to sail the Rio 2016 Paralympics and is the first woman to both represent the U.S. and win Gold in Para Sailing. The pair currently holds the only Gold medal for the USA on the winningest Paralympic sailing team in history.
About Francis “Conn” Findlay
Findlay (1930-2021) was a rare multi-sport Olympian, earning two Gold and one Bronze medal in rowing and one Bronze in sailing. From The Sailing Museum: During the last race of the Montreal 1976 Olympics, Dennis Conner asked Findlay if they should take a flyer with the opportunity to gain a Silver medal but risk losing the Bronze if they failed. Conn, from the trapeze wire and already with three rowing medals to his name, answered “Well Dennis, I’ve got my medals.” Conner chose to cover the competition and take the Bronze.
Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | US Sailing Team Media & Communications