Canadian Paralympic gold medalist reflects on career so far and love for his sport
Canadian Paralympic gold medalist Josh Dueck has had to overcome a number of obstacles throughout his career in order to get to where he is now.
Dueck is an ace sit-skier who has received multiple awards and medals for his participation in the sport. He says he’s lucky to live in a place like Canada where getting up on the hill is so accessible.
“I feel blessed to live in Canada, I feel blessed to have the opportunities that we do have. I grew up and outdoors kid, and I had an accident in 2004, and to close that door and shut it out, I think that would’ve suffocated me,” said Dueck in an interview with CTV’s Ana Almeida in an interview.
“Living where we do in a country like Canada, there are opportunities to be bold and be brave, and I knew I had to get back on the mountains in some way, shape or form.”
Dueck is a former freestyle skiing coach, but after overshooting a demonstration jump in 2004, he broke his back, leaving him without the ability to walk, or ski, again.
He did not let that stop him from getting back on the snow though.
“Part of my motivation was, I hurt myself in front of a group of kids I was coaching, and I needed to live that parable that ‘if you fall down get back up again, if you fall down get back up one more time,’ and so I did, and it just evolved into what it was,” said Dueck.
“Timing was on my side, I was injured in 2004, and the Olympic and Paralympic games were in Vancouver in 2010, so it just fed into itself.”
Since then, Dueck has been able to solidify his spot in the history of the sport, taking home silver in the slalom at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, and a double medal performance at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, where he took home gold in the super combined, and silver in the downhill. He was names Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony that year.
Dueck also received international attention in 2012, when he became the first ever sit-skier to do a backflip in the snow, which earned him an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Josh Dueck performs a backflip on a sit ski on a mountain. (Courtesy: Josh Dueck)“No matter where it is, whether it’s in the field of play, or whether it’s outside, there’s so much life to live. I suspect that part of my experience comes from how much I’ve lost, to still see how much is out there.”
As for those shiny medals? Dueck says it’s rare they see the light of day.
“I am the Sheppard and the keeper of these medals, they live in a shoe box and they’re not on display,” said Dueck. “There’s other things to talk about I guess, but my kids have their friends come over every once in a while; they’ll play with them. I love being able to take them out to different events and share that, because it’s a piece of Canada, it’s a piece of our history, and the country helped build my sports story.”
Dueck says one of the things he loves most about what he does is being able to motivate others.
“I think sport is the conduit for that proof, and it’s amazing. I love that about my story, and I love that about an athlete’s story,” said Dueck. “We’re here to help people see the potential in themselves, and if you can see it, then you can be it, and I’m one of the many examples of that, and I absolutely
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6973608.1721691615!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Harris has support of enough Democratic delegates to become party's presidential nominee: AP survey
Vice-President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee against Republican Donald Trump, according to an Associated Press survey taken in the aftermath of President Joe Biden's decision to drop his bid for re-election.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.