NAMPA, Idaho — Josh Sweeney of Nampa is a veteran and Paralympian with many admirable accomplishments. Now, he is using his hobby of tinkering to help others and push the world of adaptive sports forward.
Whether it is hand cycles or sit skis, the technology still has plenty of room to grow, and Sweeney has the kind of experience to get it there.
Fresh out of high school, Sweeney joined the Marines.
"I was in Boy Scouts as a kid, so kind of my call to serving, be a member of something bigger than myself," Sweeney said.
For five years, he served multiple deployments in Afghanistan, until one mission changed his life.
"Turned, step, explosion went off," Sweeney said. "I think it was like six hours or something like that after being blown up, laying on a stretcher, getting all the tourniquets put on, everything. I had multiple hand and arm injuries, along with the loss of my legs."
He made it back to the United States. Throughout his hospital stays in Maryland and Texas, he kept a relentless optimism.
"I know things aren't that bad. I know they're frustrating, I have my days just like everybody else," Sweeney said. "I have my moments where I want to throw my wheelchair, and then have to be like 'well, dang it I can't do that because I need it.' I think one thing that my family always taught me was to focus on the things you can do and don't necessarily look at what you can't do."
He could play hockey, a sport he grew up with.
"Driving to want to do more than just simply exist or live," Sweeney said.
He set a goal of earning a spot on the USA Paralympic sled hockey team.
"That's basically all I did," Sweeney said. "I mean, I just trained, and then I'd rest."
Five years after returning home, he got to serve his country in a new way.
"It paid off great at the 2014 games," Sweeney said.
Team USA faced off with Russia in the gold medal game. After a scoreless first period, Sweeney saw his opportunity.
"He went to pass, saw me at the last minute, lost the puck and it literally floated straight to me," Sweeney said. "I was like, 'are we for real right now?' And then I just went into autopilot. It was all of the years of training and all the time spent."
He scored the first goal of the game – it would prove to be the last goal of the game – securing gold for the United States.
"I look back at it now as a moment I'll never forget," Sweeney said.
After leaving the sled hockey team, sports continued to be a driving force in his life.
"I tried to get into doing some triathlons, I competed internationally, and then COVID hit," Sweeney said. "It wasn't until I moved out here to Boise that I was able to participate in Nordic skiing and found that I loved it."
That love brought him back to the Paralympics once again in 2022. He didn't pick up any hardware in Beijing, but joining the para-skiing community opened up another passion.
"They knew that I like to tinker. They knew that I like to build things," Sweeney said. "They know that I like to push myself."
When it comes to his gear, Sweeney is a bit of a perfectionist.
"When I was on a sit ski that didn't fit right, I couldn't ski," Sweeney said. "I felt like I was all over the place. When I wanted to move and turn, it wasn't doing what I wanted."
So, he began creating his own. Sweeney started a company called JS Adaptive Sports, helping others get that perfect fit.
His garage is now a workshop. Sweeney transforms metal into equipment that gives para-athletes the freedom to move a little bit easier.
"I started welding these up, and now it's become my biggest seller," Sweeney said.
The sports and the communities within them have done so much for Sweeney. It's his way of giving back.
"Immensely. I don't know if I'd be where I am today, I don't know if I'd be doing the stuff I'm doing. I can now help others become as successful as I have within sports," Sweeney said. "A lot of individuals have helped me get to where I am. I did not do it by myself. I would love to be able to someone that can help someone else get to the Paralympic games and win a gold medal if possible."
For those who want to help, Sweeney recommends finding an organization that supports the para-community. For him, it was the Semper Fi & America's Fund, which have helped him through the entire journey from learning to adapt to regular life, to helping him get involved in training and traveling for the Paralympics.
Watch more Sports:
See KTVB sports coverage in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.