Scout Bassett
Paralympian, author, motivational speaker, and advocate for sporting inclusivity
Scout Bassett spent seven years in a government-run orphanage in Nanjing, China, after she was abandoned on the side of a street following the loss of her right leg and suffered severe burns from a chemical fire as an infant. Given a makeshift prosthetic leg patched together from leather belts and masking tape, she never stepped outside of the orphanage before being adopted by an American couple from Michigan in 1995.
Still learning the English language, Bassett joined sports as a way to connect with her peers. At 14, she was introduced to the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which gave her a grant to fund her training while also allowing her to attend running clinics and mentor young amputees.
She worked her way to qualify for her first US Paralympic Team in 2016 where she finished fifth in the 100m. She has since won three global medals in para-athletics. Scout is a seven-time national champion in the 100m, a world record-holder in the 400m, and holder of the US record holder in the 200m.
Scout is a mentor, an activist for people with disabilities, an athlete ambassador, a motivational speaker, and a unique and inspiring role model for all people to dream big and believe. Her book, ‘Lucky Girl’, was released in September 2023 alongside the launch of the Scout Bassett Fund, which offers financial grants to young athletes with disabilities to support them in meeting the cost of competing at the elite level.