Meet Scott Winkler

Name:

Scott Winkler

Sport:

Paralympic Track & Field

Titles:

World Record for Adaptive Shot Put 2007
American Record for Adaptive Shot Put Record 2008
U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team 2008
Parapan American Games 2007, Gold medal: Shot Put, Bronze medal: Discus
National Veterans Wheelchair Games 2007, Three Gold Medals: Shot Put, Bronze

date:

January 24, 1973

Birthplace:

Pittsburgh, PA

Attachment:

U.S. Paralympics; U.S. Paralympic Academy; Champions Made From Adversity; Paralyzed Veterans Association; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Challenged Athletes Foundation; National Veterans Wheelchair Athletes

Price range:

Contact: Erika Bolin

Categories:

Adaptive Track & Field, Paralympics, Sports

Available for:

Appearances, Endorsements and Speaking Engagements

Testimonials:

"Everyone enjoyed Scott's inspirational and informative discussion at our EEO event. He was charming and really helped us all to empathize with the disabled."

- Shirley J, Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, Office of Civil Rights, DOE- Savannah River Operations

"Scott was inspiring and awesome! The kids thoroughly enjoyed the assembly and he took the time to "meet and greet" each student as they exited the gym. He also did some autographs. He is truly a genuine person with an inspiring attitude toward life. I believe the kids took an invaluable lesson with them today, one that they will carry with them for a long time to come. The kids didn't even want him to leave! Thank you again for all of your help."

- Michelle G, Pre K Teacher, Goshen Elementary, Georgia

“Like our Founder Christopher Reeve, Scott Winkler‘s resilience, perseverance and determination to succeed in spite of his spinal cord injury is an inspiration to the paralysis community and athletes across the world.”

- Sharon Kossoff, Director of Direct Response,Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

 

 

Biography:

Scott Winkler always says, “If you believe you can achieve.” And he is proof of his own mantra.

Winkler was working in carpentry when he decided to pursue a military career in his early twenties. He joined the Army. His skills lead him into the area of service technician. In the late 90’s, he took a two-year break from the Army. Civilian life wasn't for him and he re-enlisted even though the time lapse meant a decrease in rank. It was while on duty in Tikrit, Iraq in 2003 that Winkler fell off an ammo truck. This fall lead to his paralysis.
Returning home to Grovetown GA, he felt Bass fishing was all he could accomplish now faced with paraplegia. However he then met a mentor named Judie Thompson who showed him adaptive sporting options. Through Thompson, Winkler was introduced to discus and shot put at the 2006 USOC Paralympic Military Sports Camp.

And Scott Winkler was not your typical athlete. The coaches immediately noticed Winkler had a remarkable natural talent. That combination of talent and hard work has enabled him to quickly work his way up the ranking list in shot put and discus. In 2007, Winkler became the F54 Shot Put World Champion Record Holder during the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. That same winter he won both the Gold medal in Shot Put, and the Bronze medal in Discus, at the Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also managed to break his own world record while earning the gold - twice.

Those awards made Scott Winkler the first Iraq veteran to be invited to be a part of the U.S. Paralympics’ Elite team. His days became filled with training, his sites set on taking a medal in the Beijing U.S. Paralympic Games, September, 2008. Winkler managed to come in 5th place in the Field events he competed; which mixed F54 and F55 competition; he received a silver scroll for the honor from the Chinese committee.

He was the only American in the top five and was given a special scroll to recognize this accomplishment in Beijing. Winkler did manage to throw his personal best distance to date at 11.27 meters. Musayev Olokhan of Azerbaijan took the gold with a throw of 13.49. Winkler is back from the games working hard to get adaptive sports to CSRA families and citizens through his non-profit Augusta-based foundation, Champions Made From Adversity (CMFA.us). October 5th he headed back up to the White House for a toast to Olympic and Paralympic players by President Bush, having met President Bush in early September at an Olympic Gala. October 18, 2008, the Beijing Paralympics will be broadcast for the fist time on NBC (check local listings).

Winkler is also scheduled to attend the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s Heroes Gala November 12th as a special honoree. The event will be in New York’s famed Gotham Hall, hosted by celebrity Cameron Diaz. In December he heads to Colorado for a week of speaking engagements. December 14th he heads to Colorado for a week of motivational engagements with a leading American Insurance Firm.

If you'd like to secure a Scott Winkler speaking Engagement or a Scott Winkler endorsement, call Erika Bolin by calling her at 803-641-9957.

Scott Winkler Speaker:

An unwilling hero Scott Winkler manages to drive his listeners to realizing their own hidden talents. His story is of remarkable endurance and rebuilding. He can share how he was lost and depressed and through adaptive sports he discovered he not only wanted to live, but to live and reach for more again.

Scott Winkler is also an athlete through and through. He's a natural at talking about sport passion and infusing his sense of humor into some serious discussions on overcoming disability.

Scott Winkler Appearance:

Winkler is a gracious and charming guest. He is happy to meet and speak with anyone who wants to hear what he can share. He's humble about his multiple medals, but wants to be clear that he worked hard to achieve them.

His combination of charm and practice ethics makes him a must have for your engagements. His story is touching and ultimately motivating.

Scott Winkler Endorsement:

With his All-American good looks, and perfect pronunciation, a Scott Winkler endorsement is a powerful marketing tool for you.

His story of over coming and rising to the heights he has is what the American dream is all about. Winkler's life experiences and military history are ones that many individuals can relate to. His achievements hope building.

Call Erika Bolin 803.641.9957 or email: erikabowlin@bellsouth.net for more information about working with Scott Winkler.