Name: Maureen McKinnon

Position: Crew

Sport: Sailing

Classification: Mixed Two-Person SKUD-18

Height: 5-6

Weight: 190

DOB: 2/25/1965

Birthplace: Lynn, Mass.

Hometown: Marblehead, Mass.

High School: Minnechaug High School (Wilbraham, Mass.) ‘83

College: Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts – Boston ’89, Sociology

Paralympic Experience

• Two-time Paralympian (2008, 2016); Paralympic medalist (1 gold)
• Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, 5th (mixed two-person SKUD-18 )
• Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, gold (mixed two-person SKUD-18)
• Was the first woman to be a member of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team and the first woman to represent the United States and win gold in Paralympic sailing

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2016 – 11th (SKUD-18)
• Years of participation: 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016
• Medals: 1 (1 silver)
• Top finish: 2nd– 2007 (SKUD-18)

Personal: McKinnon learned to sail when she was 20. In 1995, she fell 13 feet off a seawall while on vacation in Maine and became paralyzed. After her accident, she tried racing again but the J/24s she once sailed were too challenging and the Freedom 20s designed for individuals with disabilities were too tame. She gave up sailing for a while, until a chance meeting with Paralympic skipper Rick Doerr, who invited her aboard his triple-handed Sonar as crew. She made the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team in the SKUD-18 and has found success once again in 2016 with new skipper, Ryan Porteous....Daughter of Bruce and Rosemary McKinnon… Has one daughter, Dana, and one son, Trent…Daughter Dana also has sailing in her blood, competing for her high school team…Served on the US Sailing Board of Directors for five years…Hobbies include kayaking, skiing, hand cycling, camping and baking.

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