Scott Hamilton: Back on ice for inspiration

Scott Hamilton: Back on ice for inspiration

American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton will be seen skating in a TV show for the first time since battling a brain tumor. He will join fellow Olympian and cancer survivor Dorothy Hamill for a Thanksgiving Day special. Their intention is to inspire viewers to triumph over illness.

The show "Kaleidoscope", which will air at 4-5:30 p.m. EST on November 26 on Fox, will also feature 1992 Olympic figure skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi and two-time medalist Nancy Kerrigan, along with Olympic hopefuls Johnny Weir and Rachael Flatt.

The 51 year old Hamilton will skate to a song performed by Olivia Newton-John. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.

Hamilton was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997 and with a noncancerous brain tumor in 2004. He stopped skating eight months before his tumor diagnosis.

The show will be taped on November 16 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Hamilton said, "We're trying to get the word out in a way that won't make people turn the channel the second they hear the 'C' word. It's about embracing life and moving forward and knowing you can get back to your better self, your best self, even after something as invasive and as challenging as a cancer diagnosis and treatment".

Scott Hamilton rediscovered his zest for the sport and its demands after deciding to perform in his annual benefit for the Cleveland Clinic, where he's been treated.

Hamilton said that he spent the whole last year putting the time in the gym and time in the rink and working as hard as he can to be as good as he can. He said, "I'm hoping to continue to improve and get my level back up to better than where it was five years ago, when I retired".