Josh Sweeney

Quick Facts

• Retired Marine Corps Scout Sniper, Sergeant Josh Sweeney became a bilateral amputee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Nowzad, Afghanistan in October 2009 while deployed with 3rd battalion 4th Marines.
• For his sacrifice in combat, Sweeney received a Purple Heart.
• As an able-bodied hockey player throughout Jr high and high school, Sweeney was immediately drawn to sled hockey during his rehabilitation at the CFI In San Antonio, Texas.
• He made his first U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2011, named an alternate captain in 2014 Josh scored the game winning goal in the Gold Medal match in Sochi.
• Josh was awarded the Inaugural Pat Tillman award for service at the 2014 ESPYS.
• After Josh retired from sled hockey he began competing in Para-Triathlon and was named to the USA development team in 2019 after competing in the Tokyo Test event and World Championships.
• He moved to Boise, ID in 2020 and tried Nordic skiing for the first time in Sun Valley, ID where he quickly realized he could be competitive.
• Founded an adaptive sports manufacturing business in 2023 in an effort to break the cost barrier and help others get the custom equipment they need.

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 gold)
  • Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, 16th (18km - Sitting - Men), 19th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Men), 24th (10km - Sitting - Men)
  • Paralympic Games Sochi 2014, gold (Team - Mixed)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2019 – 12th (PTHC - Men)
• Years of participation: PTHC - Men 2019; Team - Men 2012
• Medals: 1 (1 gold)
  • Gold – 2012 (Team - Men)