Scott Parsons

USA Canoe/Kayak

  • 2004
  • 2008
  • 2012
Birth Year
1979
Home
Bethesda, Maryland
Birth Place
Sylvania, Ohio
Social
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Discipline: Slalom Kayak
Hometown: Bethesda, Md.
Birthplace: Sylvania, Ohio
Current Residence: Bethesda, Md.
Birthdate: 3/27/1979
Height: 5’9”
Team: Potomac Whitewater Racing Club

2004, 2008, 2012 Olympian

Olympic Experience:

  • 2012: 16th
  • 2008: 20th
  • 2004: 6th

How He Qualified: Parsons, 33, earned the Olympic boat quota slot in Men’s Slalom Kayak for the U.S. by placing 15th at the 2011 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia on September 11. He earned points toward Olympic selection by finishing 1st at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Charlotte on April 14. Finally, he clinched the spot for himself with a 11th place finish at the 2012 World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, Wales on June 9. Despite facing a highly competitive class of U.S. men’s kayaks, Parsons led throughout the Olympic selection process.

Recent Results:

  • 2012 World Cup No. 1: 11th
  • 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st
  • 2011 World Championships: 15th
  • 2011 World Cup No. 2: 8th
  • Placed 10th among Men’s Kayaks in the final 2011 ICF World Cup Standings

Career Highlights:

  • 2007 World Championships: 7th
  • 2004 USA Canoe/Kayak Male Athlete of the Year

Is Third Time the Charm? Parsons, 32, hasn’t decided yet whether the 2012 Games will be his final run at an Olympic medal. He placed 6th at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and one crucial error knocked him out of medal contention in 2008. He emerged as the most consistent U.S. slalom paddler during the 2012 Olympic selection process. Men’s Slalom Kayak is one of the most competitive disciplines in the U.S. but Parsons outlasted a number of challengers. The veteran paddler hopes his steady hand will lead to the elusive Olympic medal.

Wife: Lauren Bixby also kayaked competitively, making a U.S. Junior Team. Her slalom career was cut short because of shoulder problems and the subsequent surgeries. Despite joint problems she has trained for and run a half marathon as well as a full marathon and paddles slalom on class one whitewater everyday.
Family: Parents - William and Mary; brother - Brian, and sister-in-law, Nancy...Has two cats and one dog...Father ran a paddling training center...Learned to kayak with his brother, family took lessons at YMCA
Job: Worked as a part-time prosthetic technician at the Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Hobbies: Reading, kayaking for fun.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Parsons-US-Olympic-Kayaker/137917076234896
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scottypkayak

In the News: Washington Post. NBC DC.

Scotty is at his best on big whitewater. Years of surfing the big waves on the Potomac and training at the demanding Dickerson Whitewater course just outside of Washington, DC has given him unequalled boat control and whitewater skills. Scotty, as he's called by his friends, is one of the most loved paddlers in the USA. There is certainly a lot to like about him. His paddling style is a combination of the strength he has earned from years of training and the technical grace that makes him so fun to watch.


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