NextSharkNextShark.com
Latest Newsletter🍵 Biden awards Asian artistsRead

Article

Paralympian Scout Bassett opens up about her life, anti-Asian discrimination

    Asian America Daily - in under 5 minutes

    Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories, to your inbox daily, for free!

    Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive

    Paralympian Scout Bassett recently opened up during an interview about her life growing up in the U.S., her training for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and her thoughts on the rise of anti-Asian hate in the country. 

    Left out: Bassett, 32, was born in Nanjing, China, and spent most of her childhood years in an orphanage, where she endured years of abuse, starvation and forced child labor, the athlete recalled in an interview with Self Magazine.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Scout Bassett (@scoutbassett)

    • The athlete does not know how she ended up in the orphanage at 12 months old, but she had already lost her lower right leg and was covered in burns and scars from a chemical fire when she got there. She had to use a makeshift prosthetic made with masking tape and leather belts.
    • She was eventually adopted at 7 years old by Joe and Susan Bassett. She moved to Harbor Springs, Mich., in 1995. Being the only minority in her grade, Bassett was often excluded from social gatherings, such as classmates’ birthday celebrations.
    • “I hated P.E. class because we would pick teams,” she recalled. “And of course, I was never the first. I was always the last or at the very bottom. There were all these everyday reminders of why you didn’t belong.”
    • Although she was given an everyday prosthetic, Bassett still struggled with sports. In 2001, when Bassett was 12, her family saw Stan Patterson, a renowned prosthetist specializing in high-performance prosthetics.
    • Bassett received her first running prosthetic two years later. She had her first run in Orlando and placed last, but she claimed that moment changed her life forever: “When I put on this running leg, suddenly the thing that really held me back was no longer holding me back.”

    Pressing on: Despite the uncertainty of the Tokyo Paralympic and Olympic Games due to COVID-19, Bassett and her coach continued with her training in public parks in San Diego.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Scout Bassett (@scoutbassett)

    • Although she tried to keep in racing shape and be prepared physically, Bassett admitted she struggled mentally. “I live alone, so that was really tough, because going to the track every day — having my teammates and coach and other people — is really the only social interaction I get.”
    • Bassett now trains five to six days a week to prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which will take place between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5, the official announcement states.
    • This upcoming event will be Bassett’s second entry into the Paralympics. She first participated in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where she placed 5th in the 100-meter race and 10th in the long jump.
    • She has won two bronze medals since the start of her athletic career, according to her Team USA profile.

    Anti-Asian hate: Bassett also spoke about how Asians are underrepresented in the media, entertainment and sports. She discussed her struggles with the increasing cases of anti-Asian hate in the country amid the pandemic.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Scout Bassett (@scoutbassett)

    • “The more recent violence has just been heartbreaking and devastating,” she shared. “When it first started, I thought, I wish America loved Asian people as much as they love our food. Because they’re happy to love sushi and ramen and Chinese food and whatnot.”
    • The athlete, however, is thankful that there are now more cultural conversations about Asians and Asian identity.
    • “What is great about this movement is that I feel like that narrative is changing. We are not the silent, submissive, just-stay-quiet group,” she declared. “And that you’re seeing voices that are speaking out and talking about their experiences.”

    Featured Image via SELF (left), P&G (Procter & Gamble) (right)

    Support our Journalism with a Contribution

    Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans.

    Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice.

    However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board.

    We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way.  Thank you for everyone's support. We love you all and can't appreciate you guys enough.

    Support NextShark

    Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Discover, Paypal