Josh Sundquist
Encyclopedia
Joshua Sundquist is a Paralympian
and a bestselling author and motivational speaker. He lost his left leg to cancer at age ten and later became a Paralympic ski racer
. His memoir, Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain, was released in January, 2010.
He trained and competed for six years, and in 2006 he was named to the United States
Paralympic Ski Team and raced in the IX Paralympic Games
, which were held in Turin, Italy that March. Sundquist competed in two alpine skiing
events for men — slalom and giant slalom. He did not win any medals.
After the Paralympics, Sundquist retired from professional racing and returned to Williamsburg, Virginia
, where he graduated with a degree in business from The College of William and Mary's Mason School of Business
the same year. He later earned a Master's in Communications from the University of Southern California
.
After the Paralympics, he won the Body-for-Life contest in 2006.
His ski-racing slogan is "1mt, 1mt" which stands for "1 More Thing, 1 More Time."
He is now a nationally recognized speaker and continues to present to groups around the United States. Sundquist's audiences and clients have included Wal-Mart
, The White House, RE/MAX, Boy Scouts of America, National FFA Organization
, YPO
, and Children's Miracle Network
.
He has been published in The Washington Post
and in Newsweek
's now defunct college magazine, Current.
Sundquist's memoir, Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain, was released on January 21, 2010 and became a National bestseller.
) and Nalts (Kevin Nalty
).
He had said before that YouTube was the only place where he felt like he looked normal. Most people watching his videos did not know about his past until his third video.
A contest run by YouTube Global that ended on January 14, 2011 asked users to vote to put one of four nominees on the front page of YouTube.com on January 22, 2011. Sundquist won the featured spot by 478 votes, beating out Luke Conard by one percentage point.
Paralympian
A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...
and a bestselling author and motivational speaker. He lost his left leg to cancer at age ten and later became a Paralympic ski racer
Paralympic alpine skiing
Paralympic alpine skiing is an adaptation of alpine skiing for athletes with a disability. Paralympic alpine skiing is one of the sports in the Paralympic Winter Games...
. His memoir, Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain, was released in January, 2010.
Alpine Ski Racing
Six years after surviving a battle with cancer and losing his leg, Sundquist began ski racing. At age 17 he moved to Colorado to pursue the sport full time.He trained and competed for six years, and in 2006 he was named to the United States
United States at the 2006 Winter Paralympics
The United States sent 56 athletes to the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy, the largest delegation of any nation. Chris Devlin-Young, a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and four-time Paralympic medalist in alpine skiing, served as the flag bearer at the opening ceremonies....
Paralympic Ski Team and raced in the IX Paralympic Games
2006 Winter Paralympics
The 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, the ninth Winter Paralympics, took place in Turin, Italy from 10 to 19 March 2006. These were the first Winter Paralympic Games to be held in Italy. They were also the first Paralympics to use the new paralympics logo....
, which were held in Turin, Italy that March. Sundquist competed in two alpine skiing
Alpine skiing at the 2006 Winter Paralympics
At the 2006 Winter Paralympics, 24 alpine skiing events were contested at Sestriere.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:*, Official website of Vancouver 2010...
events for men — slalom and giant slalom. He did not win any medals.
After the Paralympics, Sundquist retired from professional racing and returned to Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, where he graduated with a degree in business from The College of William and Mary's Mason School of Business
Mason School of Business
The Mason School of Business is the business school at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. The school, named after alumni and founder of Legg Mason, Raymond A. "Chip" Mason, in 2005, was ranked in the top 20 MBA programs in 2007 and the top 10 undergraduate programs among public universities...
the same year. He later earned a Master's in Communications from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
After the Paralympics, he won the Body-for-Life contest in 2006.
His ski-racing slogan is "1mt, 1mt" which stands for "1 More Thing, 1 More Time."
Motivational Speaking
Sundquist was sixteen when he gave his first motivational talk and has been speaking to groups ever since.He is now a nationally recognized speaker and continues to present to groups around the United States. Sundquist's audiences and clients have included Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, The White House, RE/MAX, Boy Scouts of America, National FFA Organization
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
, YPO
YPO
YPO may refer to:* Young Presidents' Organization* Peawanuck Airport...
, and Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
.
Writer
In 2001, Sundquist became a contributing writer for the Daily Guideposts, and he has also written for Guideposts Magazine, a monthly publication that features first-person narratives of faith in daily life and a subscriber base of 2.3 million.He has been published in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
's now defunct college magazine, Current.
Sundquist's memoir, Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain, was released on January 21, 2010 and became a National bestseller.
Advocate for persons with amputations
Sundquist was chosen as one of CNN's 2007 Heroes, in recognition of his work within the amputee community. In particular, CNN profiled Sundquist and his founding of the social networking website for persons with amputations, LessThanFour.org.YouTube
Sundquist just started an already existing YouTube account with the name "JoshSundquist" in late 2009 (as the account already was existent since 2006) . Sundquist has had much support from other elite Youtubers including iJustine (Justine EzarikJustine Ezarik
Justine Ezarik , is an American viral video comedian, and Internet personality. She is best known as iJustine, a lifecaster who communicates directly with her thousands of viewers on her Justin.tv channel, ijustine.tv. She has made more than 400 videos, including videos on such subjects as Lost and...
) and Nalts (Kevin Nalty
Kevin Nalty
Kevin Nalty is a YouTube comedian and partner based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania better known under his YouTube username Nalts. His YouTube Channel is one of the top-20 most-viewed comedy channels. He has more than 1,000 videos which, as of September 18, 2011, have been viewed more than 236 million...
).
He had said before that YouTube was the only place where he felt like he looked normal. Most people watching his videos did not know about his past until his third video.
A contest run by YouTube Global that ended on January 14, 2011 asked users to vote to put one of four nominees on the front page of YouTube.com on January 22, 2011. Sundquist won the featured spot by 478 votes, beating out Luke Conard by one percentage point.
External links
- Official Website
- Less Than Four.org > Amputee Social Network founded by Josh Sundquist