Josh Cassidy Photo

Hub Staff

Josh Cassidy competed in the Pushrim Wheelchair category at the Boston Marathon April 18. Cassidy, one of only three Canadians to compete in the category, placed 11th overall. Cassidy won the race in 2012, when he set the fastest time ever by a man in a wheelchair at 1:18:25. On Monday, Cassidy was up against 26 athletes in his division and was able to hold onto 10th position until the half, which he clocked at 42:56 and finished at 1:36:59, 12.53 behind first place.

Cassidy’s story, referred to as “a good script for an action movie” in an April 17 Boston Globe piece, is one that has inspired many.

Related: Josh Cassidy speaks about finding ‘True Happiness’

Born in Ottawa on November 15, 1984, Cassidy grew up on a farm outside Port Elgin. He was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer weeks after birth and, following a long battle and overcoming great odds, he was left with his legs partially paralyzed. Inspired by Canadian legend and Paralympic athlete, Jeff Adams, during his performance at the 2000 Paralympic Games, Cassidy decided to take the sport of wheelchair racing seriously and made his first national team in 2006. He competed in his first Paralympic Games in 2008 in Beijing.

In addition to his Boston win in 2012, Cassidy went on to gain many other notable results, both nationally and internationally, including first place in the London Marathon in 2010, third in the Commonwealth Games 1500m race in 2010 and at the Toronto Parapan Am Games just last year, Cassidy's performance earned him three silver medals.

Cassidy is also the current Canadian record holder in the 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and Marathon.

He will continue training for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this September. 

For full results, visit the Boston Athletic Association's Marathon pages.