Scott Winkler
Scott Winkler, 35, is building a name for himself on the throwing circuit. Exposed to discus and shot put at the 2006 USOC Paralympic Military Sports Camp, coaches noticed Winkler had natural talent. His combination of talent and hard work has enabled him to quickly work his way up the ranking list in shot put and discus. In his Paralympic Games debut in Beijing, Winkler finished just out of the medal picture in the men's shot put F55/F56, earning fifth place.
Winkler joined the Army a few years after high school and became a service technician. In the late '90s, he took a two-year break from the Army, but realized it was where he felt he belonged, so he returned.
In 2003, Winkler fell off an ammo truck in Tikrit, Iraq, resulting in paralysis.
Winkler is co-founder of Champions Made from Adversity (CMFA), a non-profit organization that provides sports and leisure activities for people with a physical disability and their families.
Major Achievements:
- 2008: Fifth place, shot put (11.27m - new American record) - 2008 Paralympic Games
- 2008: First place, American record (10.97m), Shot Put - U.S. Paralympic Trials-Track and Field, Tempe, Ariz.
- 2007: World record, F4 Shot Put - U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships, Atlanta, Ga.
- 2007: Gold medal, bronze medal, Shot Put - Para Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
