Three-time Paralympian Josh Cassidy will be bringing his message, skills and passion to the River Run Centre stage on Thursday.
Cassidy will tap into the spirit of the recent Winter Olympics with his ‘Olympic Mindfulness’ event.
“It’s me wanting to give as many tools and resources that I’ve accumulated over the years in my own training and passing them on to people to help them achieve their goals in whatever area that is,” said Cassidy.
He said the tools that help someone get to the Olympics and Paralympics are the same tools that can help you succeed in school, business and life in general.
“I learned early on that there’s always going to be challenges and obstacles in life, but they’re there to help us grow,” he said.
“Sport is sort of that microcosm of life, where you’re voluntarily throwing yourself in front of challenges to try and make yourself better. To grow. And that’s applicable to everything.”
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available through the River Run Centre box office.
“People are just finished watching those Winter Olympics and I’m sure there’s always lots of burning questions,” he said.
The talk will cover a wide variety of elements: nutrition, supplements, what it takes mentally to achieve that kind of success.
“I’m just sharing everything I can as quickly as I can in three and a half hours,” he said, adding that members of his team will also be appearing to discuss their areas of expertise.
Cassidy, who lives and trains in Guelph, lost the use of his legs due to cancer of the spine when he was a young child.
Always athletically inclined and later Inspired by the watching the 2000 Paralympics - he turned to wheelchair racing.
His achievements speak for themselves: a three-time Paralympian, holder of 28 Canadian records, winner of the wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon and London Marathon and a three-time silver medallist at the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto.
He said his training over the winter has gone extremely well, with times that are some of his best ever, and he is currently focused on the upcoming London Marathon and Boston Marathon as well as trying to get to Dubai to take part in a high-level track event.
The Olympics captivates people, Cassidy said.
“It’s just so amazing to watch the spectacle of human potential, ultimate human potential, and the stories that go along with it.
“Everyone that got there went through their challenges too … to hear those stories of what people had to overcome to get where they are is relatable.
