Scott Steele

Scott Steele attended St. Mary’s College, where he was a two-time All-American in sailing. He had superb years in 1982 and 1983. In 1982 he won the Open Class North Americans, Windsurfer Americans, Minstral North Americans, and two open class US titles. In 1983 he won the Open Class North Americans, Minstral North Americans, Windsurfer Worlds, Windsurfer Mid-Winters and Open Class Nationals lightweight titles. Steele attempted to make the 1988 Olympic team but placed third at the trials. He served as a training partner for US windsurfer Mike Gebhart, who went on to win a bronze medal in Seoul.

Steele then started coaching but in 1990 began competing again in an attempt to make the 1992 Olympic team. He won a silver medal at the 1990 Goodwill Games, but only because of his own sportsmanship. In race five Poland’s Grzegorz Myszkowski was disqualified for crossing the starting line early which would have given Steele the gold medal. Myszkowski, however, had returned to the starting line and re-crossed it, as required, and the race committee did not see it. Steele testified on his behalf, however, and Myszkowski was reinstated. “Scott is wonderful,” Myszkowski said. “What he did was very sportsmanlike.”

Steele later became director of racing for Mistral, a windsurfing equipment manufacturer in Dorsey. He conducts clinics and organizes and directs races.