SCI Superstar: Joshua Cassidy

Joshua Cassidy, winner of over 80 marathons and the breaker of the world record in wheelchair racing at the Boston Marathon in 2012 at 1:18:25, is one of the fastest wheelchair racers in the world, going up 45 miles an hour downhill.

And this athlete has quite the back story. After overcoming childhood cancer, he went gone on to win several wheelchair racing medals and star in a Hallmark film. Read on for Joshua Cassidy’s epic story.

Why He’s Fearless

Since leaving his mother’s womb, Joshua has been a fighter. After being misdiagnosed with Spinal Bifida when he was born, doctors realized he had a rare form of cancer. Fortunately, the treatments worked; despite leaving his legs mostly paralyzed. Joshua can partially feel his legs and walk short distances, but he uses a wheelchair most of time.

While being raised the eldest of 10 kids in a military family near Toronto, Canada, Joshua discovered wheelchair racing. In 2009 at the age of 26, he entered his first big race — The Tyne Tunnel 2K International (a wheelchair race through a tunnel in Newcastle, England). Next, he began competing at marathons at home, winning the Ottawa marathon multiple times. And by 2008, he was on the Canadian Paralympic wheelchair racing team. While he didn’t win any medals, he made an impressive showing.

And in 2010, Joshua won the London Marathon. This is the same year he made a record finish in the Boston Marathon as well. With the London Paralympics also in 2012, Joshua made the team again. He placed 10th in marathon, 20th in the 5000 m, 10th in the 1500 m and 5th in the 800 m. Joshua has also participated in marathons all over the world, from the Berlin Marathon to the Seoul Marathon. 

What’s Next?

While wheelchair racing has never stopped being his passion, Joshua has also become a popular motivational speaker and actor. As a professional speaker, his message is how to overcome obstacles, and he has given thousands of speeches all around the world.

In 2019, Joshua starred in the Hallmark Christmas movie, Swept Up by Christmas. This wasn’t however his first attempt at acting. In 2014, he was in the short film, The LeVer. And Joshua became a proud father during the pandemic, with his son Henrick born in November 2021. He and his partner have three sons together.

While Joshua missed the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, he is still racing marathons whenever he can. He placed 4th in the New York City marathon in 2021. While being at the top of the racing game may be a bit harder with age, we expect Joshua to still be involved in racing for years to come.

— Visit his official site: JoshCassidy.com