Josh Dueck
Paralympic Legend
Team Canada Chef de Mission, Beijing 2022
2014 Paralympic Gold Medalist
Canada's Closing Ceremonies Flag Bearer, Sochi 2014
2014 and 2010 Paralympic Silver Medalist
2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
2011 X Games Gold Medalist
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Recipient
First person to perform a backflip on a sit-ski
Social Followers: Facebook, 5,200; Instagram, 5,014; Twitter, 3,631
Hometown: Kimberley, British Columbia
Some spirits are simply unbreakable.
In 2004, Josh was in a life-changing freestyle skiing accident that left him as a T11 full paraplegic.
From his hospital bed with the long months of recovery ahead, it was the initial encouragement from his now-mentor Rick Hansen that helped Josh re-dedicate his life to freedom, adventure and helping those that could learn from his example.
By 2009, Josh was the Para-Alpine World Champion, he won a sliver medal in Vancouver 2010 and an X Games gold medal in 2011.
Then, came the backflip.
After a year of planning and progression, Josh, his close friends and a film crew, lead by legendary ski industry director Mike Douglas, ventured into the Whistler backcountry to build a jump that would help safely land the first backflip on a sit-ski.
On a perfect blue-bird day in February 2012, Josh hit the jump, soared upside down and landed in the soft-snow below.
The backflip also gained him National Geographic Adventurer of the Year honours and garnered international attention on YouTube with over 900,000 views and eventually landed him on the Ellen Degeneres Show.
In Sochi 2014, Josh's story continued to inspire.
On the 10th anniversary of his accident, he won a Paralympic silver medal for Canada.
Days later, he won gold in the Super Combined to become Paralympic Champion and was honoured as Canada's Flag Bearer for the Closing Ceremonies.
Like the backflip, his story has come full circle.
Now, as a recognized and inspiring athlete leader in the Paralympic movement, Josh has been given the highest honour as the Chef de Mission for Team Canada in Beijing 2022.
