Maureen

McKinnon

Quick Facts

• McKinnon learned to sail when she was 20. In 1995, she fell 13 feet off a seawall while on vacation in Maine and became paralyzed. After her accident, she tried racing again but the J/24s she once sailed were too challenging and the Freedom 20s designed for individuals with disabilities were too tame. She gave up sailing for a while, until a chance meeting with Paralympic skipper Rick Doerr, who invited her aboard his triple-handed Sonar as crew. She made the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team in the SKUD-18 and has found success once again in 2016 with new skipper, Ryan Porteous
• Daughter of Bruce and Rosemary McKinnon
• Has one daughter, Dana, and one son, Trent
• Daughter Dana also has sailing in her blood, competing for her high school team
• Served on the US Sailing Board of Directors for five years
• Hobbies include kayaking, skiing, hand cycling, camping and baking.

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 gold)
• Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 5th (Two-Person Keelboat - Mixed)
• Paralympic Games Qingdao 2008, gold (Two-Person Keelboat - Mixed)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2023 – 12th (Two-Person Keelboat - Open)
• Years of participation: Two-Person Keelboat - Open 2023; Two-Person Keelboat - Mixed 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016; Three-Person Keelboat - Mixed 2012
• Medals: 1 (1 silver)
• Silver – 2007 (Two-Person Keelboat - Mixed)

More

U.S. Sailing