FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Nick Scandone, a sailor who won a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in China while battling Lou Gehrig's disease, has died. He was 42.

Scandone died Friday at his home in Fountain Valley of the degenerative neuromuscular disease he was diagnosed with six years ago. Few patients of the disease live so long after diagnosis.

Scandone won the gold medal in the two-person keelboat SKUD-18 class in September with teammate Maureen McKinnon-Tucker.

In 2005, he was named U.S. Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman of the Year after beating out the best of the class' able-bodied sailors to win the 2.4 Metre World Championship in Italy.

Scandone is survived by his wife of 10 years, Mary Kate Scandone.