Scott Hamilton was adopted when he was six weeks old and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of two. The doctors gave him six months to live, but the disease began to correct itself. He began ice skating during his teenage years, but had to quit because his parents were unable to afford the costs. Later, he was able to get funded through a grant from Helen and Frank McLoraine to continue his training.

Hamilton is known for his signature back flip move. He won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. In 1997 he announced that he had testicular cancer, and in 2004, he had a benign brain tumor. When the surgery to remove the tumor was performed in 2010, he announced that an artery was nicked which caused an aneurysm a few days later. Hamilton continues to skate and was featured in a special on the Bio Channel showcasing his return.