Thirty years after surviving a plane crash that killed his best friend, Scott Christmas is heading to the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona to fulfill the last of three promises he made during his recovery.

Scott was given less than a 3% chance of surviving. He endured a severely broken back, devastating injuries and a long rehabilitation—then fought his way back to triathlon. His journey would later include the Marine Corps Marathon, an extraordinary connection to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, the loss of his wife Amy to glioblastoma and a renewed opportunity to complete the promise that began in 1996.

In this episode of Be Fierce & Tri, Scott joins Jill Bartholomew to share what happened inside the submerged plane, the unlikely chain of events that saved his life, how endurance sport helped him move through grief and why crossing the finish line in Kona means far more than earning another medal.

Scott is racing as an IRONMAN Foundation athlete, helping support programs that provide swimming opportunities, bicycles and access to sport for children.

Support Scott’s IRONMAN Foundation campaign:
https://ironmanfoundation.donordrive.com/participant/4123

Learn more about Be Fierce & Tri:
https://befierceandtripodcast.com

Topics discussed:
• Surviving a fatal seaplane crash
• Recovery after a broken back and life-threatening injuries
• Survivor’s guilt and the three promises Scott made
• Returning to triathlon
• Running the Marine Corps Marathon and honoring Wynn at Arlington
• Amy’s battle with glioblastoma
• The IRONMAN Foundation
• Racing Kona on the crash’s 30th anniversary
• Using endurance sport to create hope after loss

Content note: This conversation includes detailed discussion of a fatal plane crash, traumatic injuries, cancer, grief and the death of a spouse.

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#IRONMAN #Kona #Triathlon

CHAPTERS
00:00 Scott’s 30-year promise
01:30 How triathlon entered Scott’s life
04:50 The final flight with Wynn
07:42 The plane hits the water
09:28 Trapped inside the submerged aircraft
11:35 The unlikely rescue
13:38 A less than 3% chance of survival
15:48 The three promises
20:13 Survivor’s guilt and finding a way forward
23:35 The first promise
33:29 The LifeSouth connection
40:25 Returning to racing
44:28 The road to the Marine Corps Marathon
50:26 Meeting Amy
53:15 The first signs of Amy’s illness
59:58 The glioblastoma diagnosis
64:31 Amy’s final finish line
67:38 Returning to the third promise
69:25 The call from the IRONMAN Foundation
71:47 Why Kona is bigger than a race
74:40 Supporting Scott’s foundation campaign