A Q&A with Scott Hamilton

Scott Hamilton. Can we even speak the name aloud? The stars aligned. Blessed are we. One of our Chasers definitely passed out. Scott Hamilton, the championship ice skater turned professional ice performer turned Olympic commentator with golden retriever level enthusiasm… did a Q&A with some of our best humans. We laughed. We cried. And when I say “we” I am definitely only referring to the Page Chaser team – no Hamiltons were moved in the making of this Q&A. Please enjoy.

If you had to summarize yourself in two sentences, what would you say?

S: I would say that I am a very blessed person of faith that is seeking to understand my ever-changing purpose. That I have been challenged constantly, and through hard work and determination, have found ways to rise above those challenges.

Right now in PyeongChang, what is the atmosphere like?

S: There is a lot of logical apprehension as we go through our preparations to tell the powerful stories of the athletes and everything they have done to prepare for these Olympic Winter Games. You see, everyone here is excited, and nervous, as we see the athletes, organizers, and broadcasters do their jobs as well as they can be done to perform in an event like no other.

How has being an Olympic athlete shaped you as a person?

S: Without dreams and aspirations, we may sleep through periods of incredible opportunity. I was put on a path that I needed to navigate in order to live the life that I could live. The Olympics are a dream and aspiration like no other. It has universal appeal where we celebrate life and excellence like no other movement in our world. I am now able to reach more people, touch their lives in impactful ways, and show people that anything is possible.

What specific qualities have you noticed about Olympians? What sets them apart?

S: Olympians have historically shown themselves to be the best of the best; hard working individuals that rise above impossible situations to perform on the biggest stages. Preparation, bravery, single-mindedness, and a true commitment to a process like no other inspires each athlete to represent their nations to rise up and celebrate every one of those qualities.

How do you feel about competition off the field?

S: I think competition is a destination that gives us feedback to where we are in our sport, business, or classroom. It inspires everyone to be better, commit to the process, and understand who we are and what we need to be doing. We can sleep through our lives and deny our unique purpose and identities. Or we can roll up our sleeves, put in the time, and see how we can improve our lives and identities through the feedback we get from competing. It’s healthy, honest, and builds us to be who we are meant to be.

You just published a new book, Finish First. What inspired you to write it?

S: My life has been filled with challenges and setbacks. I see our world going through a shift in the way the world operates that can be toxic to our ability of living a full life. What better way to help people than to share wisdom that they can apply to their lives that can guide them to their best selves? Finish First's purpose is to guide people to live their lives productively, fully and victoriously.

What principles from Finish First have you seen in some of the athletes already?

S: The athletes here have every single one of the qualities I share in the book. So do the organizers, television personnel, officials, volunteers, and everyone else who make these Games possible. The main focus is on the athletes who have shown the qualities of: 1) Knowing their purpose, 2) Breaking the pattern of losing, 3) Committing to the long haul, 4) Showing up every day, 5) Overcoming their limitations, 6) Outworking everyone, 7) Ditching fear and embracing failure, 8) The ability to edit their critics, 9) Playing by the rules of the game, and 10) Never looking back. The athletes of these Games and every Games hold these characteristics.

Is this just another book for athletes? Who could benefit from this book, and why?

S: The same qualities that go into preparing for an Olympics are the same ones we all need to use in order to live our lives fully and victoriously. Each and every one of us has a unique purpose and potential skill set that makes us special. It’s discovering that purpose and skill set that allows us to use Olympic aspirations to rise above our limitations and fears to live our lives fully. There are so many obstacles in our lives. Ones that seem to prevent us from being successful. To "finish first" is to understand what you have to offer the world and then to be the best you can be at offering just that. It's to put your heart and soul into being the best you can be. There you have it! Words of wisdom from Scott Hamilton, who skated into our hearts in 1984 and has simply never left. If you need more Scott in your life (and who doesn’t?) please check out Finish First. And don’t forget to tune into the Olympics on NBC! Laura is an active friend to the Page Chaser team and enjoys thrillers on Netflix and arguing the merits of Belgium over France. If you want to follow Laura, check her out on the Page Chaser Instagram, or wondering why she ever left warm California for freezing Tennessee. HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., operates Page Chaser, the publisher of Finish First.