Successful Brain Surgery for Olympic Skater Scott Hamilton

Olympic gold-medal winning ice skater Scott Hamilton, 51, had brain surgery Wednesday to remove a recurrent benign tumor near his pituitary gland, which first appeared in 2004.

Hamilton's representative, Michelle Thornbury, told People magazine, "They're happy with the progress of the entry process, and now doctors can begin to get rid of the tumor."

The surgery was done in Boston. After the surgery, Thornbury told People magazine, "Scott is resting comfortably and expected to make a full recovery. He and his family are so thankful to the doctors and surgical team for taking such good care of him and grateful to everyone for their thoughts and prayers."

Hamilton will remain in intensive care for the next couple of days and is expected to return home  next week.

Hamilton told People magazine, "You think you love your life, but you're just scratching the surface, now I look at my son and I realize I may not be able to spend much time with him."

In 2004, Hamilton, underwent a procedure to have the benign tumor called craniopharyngioma reduced, but it grew back forcing him to remove it.

The skater also had chemotherapy to treat testicular cancer in 1997.

Last year, Hamilton returned to skating after more than five years off for a November benefit for Cleveland Clinic.