Emily Scott

Emily Scott (born February 16, 1989) is an American short track speed skater who competed at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

As a young girl, Scott was a gymnast and roller skater.

She discontinued gymnastics when it became too expensive, and took up inline speed skating.

As an inline skater, she won five World Championship gold medals and set three national records.

Scott was born February 16, 1989, in Springfield, Missouri, to mother Carol and father Craig Scott.

She grew up in Springfield, Missouri.

When she was in third grade, she and her sister were removed from their mother's house.

They were subsequently raised by their father.

In 2004, she teamed with Brittany Bowe to set the United States national record in the Sophomore 2000 meter two woman relay with a time of 3:12.574.

In 2005, Scott won the junior 15000 meter elimination at the 2006 World Inline Speed Skating Championships, passing Columbia's Carolina Upegui on the final lap.

Scott graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2007.

As a young girl, Scott made the Junior Olympics Gymnastics Team, but gave up the sport because it was too expensive for her family.

She first learned to roller skate at age two and a half, later taking up inline skating at the local roller rink, Skateport.

At age 14, she moved to Florida for three years to focus on her inline training, returning to Springfield in time for high school graduation.

Scott began her athletic career as an inline speed skater.

In 2008 Scott transitioned from inline skating to short track speed skating on the ice.

At the 2008 World Championships, Bowe, Scott, and Sara Sayasane teamed up to win gold in the 3000 meter track relay.

Also in 2008, Scott set the Senior national record in the 5000 meter elimination with a time of 8:45.049 and teamed up with Kirsten Attipoe to set the national record in the 3000 meter relay with a time of 4:53.179.

In all, Scott won five World Championship crowns before transitioning to the ice in 2008.

She found the transition very difficult and nearly quit, but continued on the advice of her father.

She made the United States' World Cup and World Championship teams from 2010 to 2013, winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships.

With Scott's help, the United States' relay team placed third in the overall 2010–11 World Cup standings and second in the 2011–12 standings.

At the 2010 Olympic Trials, her third ever meet, Scott placed ninth overall.

She quickly improved, making the United States' World Cup and World Championship Teams every year from 2010 to 2013.

Scott placed fourth overall at the 2010 and 2011 National Championships.

As a member of the National Short Track Team, she has focused primarily on team relay events, helping the United States to place third in the 2010–2011 World Cup standings.

At the 2011 World Team Championships, Scott helped the United States to a bronze medal.

She helped the United States to a second-place finish in the 2011–12 World Cup relay standings and a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships.

In 2012, she placed second overall at the U.S. National Championships.

Following a poor 2012–13 season, the United States cut Scott's funding, prompting her to fill out an application for food stamps.

Shortly thereafter USA Today ran a story on her situation.

The story prompted an outpouring of donations from the public, allowing Scott to focus on her training.

At the 2012 National Championships, Scott finished second overall.

During the 2012–2013 season, the United States placed eighth in the World Cup relay standing.

In total, Scott has won five World Cup medals – 1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze, all for relay events.

The increased focus paid off, as Scott finished 2013 as the top rated American in the 1000 meters, second in the 1500 meters, and third in the 500 meters.

After the relay team failed to place in the top eight at the 2013 World Championships, US Speedskating cut Scott's monthly stipend from $1950 to $600.

At the 2014 Olympic Trials, she placed second in all three events, qualifying her for her first Olympics.

Scott made the finals of 1500 meters at the Olympics, placing fifth after another skater caused her to fall.

She was eliminated in the quarter finals of the 500 and 1000 meter events.