Victorious return

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT — Nick Scandone’s friends and family were more than prepared for his return Thursday from the Paralympic Games in China — and they got a few rehearsals in, too.

As the U.S. sailing gold medalist landed shortly before 2 p.m., nearly 100 people gathered at the airport’s baggage claim with balloons, American flags, handmade signs and a giant banner welcoming their hero home. The group assembled facing the elevator that Scandone would be returning through, and every time the doors began to open, the crowd burst into applause. It turned out to be a false alarm the first three or four times, as strangers exited the elevator, nodded obligingly and went on their way.

Finally, the doors parted to let Scandone through, and the celebration began. Sporting his gold medal around his neck and an American flag sticking out the back of his wheelchair, the Fountain Valley resident held up the medal for the crowd to see and was promptly mobbed by TV crews, reporters and admirers.

The crowd began chanting, “USA! USA!” and then altered the chant to “BYC! BYC!” — in honor of the Balboa Yacht Club, of which Scandone is a longtime member.

“This is way too much,” Scandone told a TV reporter who asked how he felt about the welcome.

Scandone, who has Lou Gehrig’s Disease, won gold last week in the Paralympics after four years of training that was largely funded by the Balboa Yacht Club. Many of the people greeting him Thursday came from the yacht club, which planned to throw a victory party Sunday for Scandone, member Jan Wentz said.

“It’s just so fantastic,” she said. “He worked so hard, and basically all on willpower.”

Scandone, 42, won the gold along with his sailing partner, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker of Marblehead, Mass.; three years ago, he won his second consecutive U.S. Disabled National Championship. His father, Vince, was among those waiting for him at John Wayne Airport, and he said Scandone’s victory didn’t come as a shock.

“We knew he was going to do it,” Vince Scandone said. “He’s been sailing good for a long time. He’s a world-class sailor.”

After the festivities, Scandone, who had flown in from San Francisco after a nonstop flight from China, headed home to get some rest. Asked where he planned to display the gold medal at home, he replied, “It will stay close to me in my room, where I like to relax. Maybe someday, it will end up in the yacht club.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at [email protected].