Speaking
Leadership keynote speaker, Marine veteran and Paralympian
Josh Sweeney is a Marine Corps veteran, a former scout sniper, and a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in sled hockey and cross-country skiing. He speaks to corporate teams, military and veteran organizations, and schools about resilience, leadership and the unglamorous work behind any result.
Ways to book Josh
- Keynote Speech
- The whole arc, from the Marine Corps through injury and rehab to two Paralympic golds, told plainly, with practical points your audience can use.
- Panel Discussion
- Straight answers on discipline, adapting when plans change, and the teammates and coaches behind any result.
- Fireside Chat
- A conversation rather than a speech. Your host asks; Josh answers candidly, including the parts that did not go to plan.
- Motivational Speech
- For a team facing a hard stretch: no slogans, just what preparation, consistency and support look like up close.
Speaking topics
Resilience after a setback
What recovery actually involved after an IED changed everything in 2009: the rehab, the routine, and the people who made it possible.
Leadership and teamwork
Lessons from a Marine scout sniper team and an alternate captaincy with Team USA sled hockey: trust, preparation and shared credit.
Discipline you can repeat
Small improvements, consistency and doing the work when it is not appealing, from two Paralympic sports and an Ironman 70.3.
Adapting and inclusion
Building adaptive sports equipment at JS Adaptive Sports, and what removing barriers looks like in practice.
In his own words
How sport became part of his recovery, in a short feature.
US Paralympic Gold Medalist Josh Sweeney's Pursuit to Heal Through Sport
Who books Josh
- Corporate and leadership events
- Keynotes and fireside chats for leadership offsites, conferences and company all-hands.
- Military and veteran organizations
- A Marine Corps veteran speaking to service members, veterans and the people who support them.
- Schools and young athletes
- Assemblies and team talks about effort, setbacks and the next step.
- Brand partners and sponsors
- A two-time Paralympic gold medalist and Team USA athlete open to brand ambassador and sponsorship work.
Service and results
- 2009Scout Sniper with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Injured by an IED in Nowzad, Afghanistan.
- 2014Paralympic gold in sled hockey at Sochi. The inaugural ESPY Pat Tillman Award for Service.
- 2019Team USA paratriathlon at the Tokyo Paralympic Test Event and the World Championships.
- 2022Team USA cross-country skiing at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.
- 2026Paralympic gold in the cross-country team relay.
Questions event planners ask
- Who is Josh Sweeney?
- Josh Sweeney is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former scout sniper who won Paralympic gold in sled hockey at Sochi 2014 and in the cross-country team relay in 2026. He received the inaugural ESPY Pat Tillman Award for Service in 2014 and founded JS Adaptive Sports.
- What does Josh Sweeney speak about?
- Resilience after a setback, leadership and teamwork, discipline you can repeat, and adapting and inclusion, drawn from his military service, his recovery and his Paralympic career.
- What speaking formats does he offer?
- Keynote speeches, panel discussions, fireside chats and motivational speeches.
- Where is Josh Sweeney based?
- Boise, Idaho.
- How do I book Josh Sweeney to speak?
- Send the date, the audience and what you would like people to leave with through the contact form, and you will hear back about availability and fit.
Planning an event?
Send the date, the audience and what you would like people to leave with.
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