# Josh Sundquist

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{{short description|American comedian, Paralympian, & author (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [:Template:Infobox writer/doc](/source/%3ATemplate%3AInfobox_writer%2Fdoc) -->
| name = Josh Sundquist
| image = 
| pseudonym = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|8|6}}
| birth_place = [Charlottesville, Virginia](/source/Charlottesville%2C_Virginia)
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| occupation = [Motivational Speaker](/source/Motivational_Speaker), Comedian, Author, YouTuber
| language = English
| nationality = American
| citizenship = United States
| education = Bachelor of Business Administration<br>Master's in Communications
| alma_mater = [College of William and Mary](/source/College_of_William_and_Mary)<br>[University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California)
| genre = [Memoir](/source/Memoir), [Fiction](/source/Fiction)
| movement = 
| spouse = {{marriage|Ashley Nolan|2015}}
| website = {{URL|joshsundquist.com}}
}}

'''Joshua Lee Sundquist''' (born August 6, 1984) is an American comedian, [Paralympian](/source/Paralympian), and author.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christian City's Annual Night of Hope planned for tomorrow |url=https://thecitizen.com/2010/05/19/christian-citys-annual-night-hope-planned-tomorrow/ |website=The Citizen |access-date=June 25, 2022 |date=May 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524130940/http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/05-19-2010/christian-city%E2%80%99s-annual-night-hope-planned-tomorrow |archive-date=May 24, 2010 }}</ref> He lost his left leg to [Ewing's sarcoma](/source/Ewing's_sarcoma) at age nine and later became a [Paralympic](/source/Paralympic) [ski racer](/source/Paralympic_alpine_skiing). His memoir, ''[Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain](/source/Just_Don't_Fall%3A_How_I_Grew_Up%2C_Conquered_Illness%2C_and_Made_it_Down_the_Mountain),'' was released in January 2010. A show on Apple TV+ called ''Best Foot Forward'' about his early life experiences premiered in 2022. In 2023, he starred in the animated series ''[Mech Cadets](/source/Mech_Cadets)'' where his character Frank Olivetti was also missing his left leg.

==Early life==
Sundquist was born in [Charlottesville](/source/Charlottesville), [Virginia](/source/Virginia) and grew up in [Harrisonburg, Virginia](/source/Harrisonburg%2C_Virginia) as the eldest of four children.<ref>{{Cite web|last=WRITER|first=CYNTHIA MCMULLEN TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF|title=Amputee's story motivates and builds online community|url=https://richmond.com/entertainment/amputees-story-motivates-and-builds-online-community/article_d54708c4-57c7-55f0-a4ef-45e5d21c4b25.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=February 19, 2008 }}</ref>

==Alpine ski racing==
Six years after surviving a battle with cancer and losing his leg, Sundquist began ski racing. At age 17 he moved to Colorado to pursue the sport full-time.<ref>[http://www.trendmaxglobal.com/motivational-and-inspirational-speaker-josh-sundquist.aspx?sid=f4b441f0-8dce-428b-81bb-9882c0caf5b7 TrendMasterGlobal] "Josh Sundquist" {{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref> Sundquist trained and competed for six years, and in 2006 he was named to the [United States](/source/United_States_at_the_2006_Winter_Paralympics) Paralympic Ski Team and raced in the [IX Paralympic Games](/source/2006_Winter_Paralympics), which were held in [Turin, Italy](/source/Turin%2C_Italy) that March. Sundquist competed in two [alpine skiing](/source/Alpine_skiing_at_the_2006_Winter_Paralympics) events for men – slalom and giant slalom. He did not win any medals.<ref name="dnr">{{cite news| last = Lemire| first = Joe| title = Sundquist's Next Stop: Turin| publisher = The Daily News Record| date = February 16, 2006| url = http://www.dnronline.com/details.php?AID=3029&CHID=46| accessdate = August 12, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref>

After the Paralympics, Sundquist retired from professional racing and returned to [Williamsburg, Virginia](/source/Williamsburg%2C_Virginia), where he graduated with a degree in business from The College of William and Mary's [Mason School of Business](/source/Mason_School_of_Business) the same year.<ref>[http://www.mywire.com/a/PRNewswire/WM-Business-Student-Josh-Sundquist/1195609?&pbl=273 MyWire] "W&M Business Student Josh Sundquist Selected for U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team" {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050045/http://www.mywire.com/a/PRNewswire/WM-Business-Student-Josh-Sundquist/1195609?&pbl=273 |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> He later earned a Master's in Communications from the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California).

==Motivational speaker==
Sundquist was sixteen when he gave his first motivational talk and has been speaking to groups ever since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://talbronstein.org/archive/2003_12_josh_02.htm|title=Who is this 19 year old Josh Sundquist?|website=Talbronstein|access-date=August 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723235734/http://www.talbronstein.org/archive/2003_12_josh_02.htm|archive-date=July 23, 2008|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

He is a motivational speaker who presents to groups around the United States. Sundquist's audiences and clients have included [Facebook](/source/Facebook), [WalMart](/source/Walmart), [the White House](/source/White_House), [RE/MAX](/source/RE%2FMAX), [National FFA Organization](/source/National_FFA_Organization), and [Children's Miracle Network](/source/Children's_Miracle_Network_Hospitals).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110825225159/http://remaxtexas.frogpond.com/DispArticle.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=23071&ISSUE_ID=1663 The Reporter Online] "The 31st Annual Statewide Convention in Review" {{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.stlbsa.org/Activities/Council+Annual+Dinner.htm Great St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America] Council Annual Dinner  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618014134/http://www.stlbsa.org/Activities/Council%2BAnnual%2BDinner.htm |date=June 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.yposouthern7.org/AM/Images/Documents/DisneyPreliminaryMasterSchedule061509.pdf YPO Southern Seven] Conference Master Schedule {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008112224/http://www.yposouthern7.org/AM/Images/Documents/DisneyPreliminaryMasterSchedule061509.pdf |date=October 8, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.fscc.com/files/Post%20Convention%20Press%20release%20Final%20SCB%20063008%20final.pdf FSCC] Post Convention Press Release {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824064757/http://www.fscc.com/files/Post%20Convention%20Press%20release%20Final%20SCB%20063008%20final.pdf |date=August 24, 2009 }}</ref>

==Comedian==
Since July 2018, Sundquist has performed an interactive one-man comedy show called ''We Should Hang Out Sometime'' at [Santa Monica Playhouse](/source/Santa_Monica_Playhouse) & Group Theatre in [Santa Monica](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California).  The show is based on his memoir, ''We Should Hang Out Sometime.'' <ref>{{Cite web|last=Carreras|first=Angel|date=2019-07-05|title=Standing out on one leg|url=https://www.smdp.com/standing-out-on-one-leg/177124|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Santa Monica Daily Press}}</ref>

==Writer==
In 2001, Sundquist became a contributing writer for the ''Daily Guideposts,'' and he has also written for ''[Guideposts Magazine](/source/Guideposts_Magazine),'' a monthly publication that features first-person narratives of faith in daily life and a subscriber base of 2.3 million.<ref>[http://www.guideposts.com/story/peak-performer?page=0%2C3 Guideposts Magazine]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} "Peak Performer"</ref>

He has been published in ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'' and in ''[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)'s'' now defunct college magazine, ''Current.''<ref name="Wpost">{{cite news| last = Sundquist| first = Josh| title = LIFE IS SHORT – Autobiography as Haiku| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = August 22, 2004| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22587-2004Aug21.html| accessdate = August 12, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108155839/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22587-2004Aug21.html| archive-date = November 8, 2012| url-status = live| df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="dailyreporter">{{cite news| title = Sundquist: Fulfilling God's plan| work = The Daily Reporter| date = November 21, 2008| url = http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1480204.html| accessdate = August 12, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090815163217/http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1480204.html| archive-date = August 15, 2009| url-status = live| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

Sundquist's memoir, ''Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain,'' was released on January 21, 2010, and became a national bestseller.<ref name="TV-3">{{cite news| last = Harris| first = McKinsey| title = Harrisonburg Native Inspires Through National Bestseller| publisher = WHSV-3| date = February 14, 2010| url = http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/84321097.html| accessdate = February 22, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716051631/http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/84321097.html| archive-date = July 16, 2011| url-status = live| df = mdy-all}}</ref> It has been adapted into a television series, titled ''Best Foot Forward'', which premiered July 22, 2022 on [Apple TV+](/source/Apple_TV%2B).<ref>{{cite press release|title=Apple TV+ announces summer lineup of kids series, including "Duck & Goose," "Best Foot Forward," "Amber Brown," "Surfside Girls" and "Life By Ella"|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2022/05/apple-tv-announces-summer-lineup-of-kids-series-including-duck-and-goose-best-foot-forward-amber-brown-surfside-girls-and-life-by-ella/|website=Apple TV+ Press|date=May 13, 2022|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref> Sundquist's latest book, ''Semi-Famous'' was released on July 19, 2022.

==Advocacy==
Sundquist was chosen as one of [CNN](/source/CNN)'s 2007 Heroes, in recognition of his work within the amputee community.  In particular, CNN profiled Sundquist and his founding of the social networking website for persons with amputations, LessThanFour.org.<ref>{{cite web |title=CNN Newsroom: Thousands Turn Out to Support Jena Six; Will Mortgage Crisis Escalate? |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/cnr/date/2007-09-20/segment/06 |website=CNN |access-date=June 25, 2022 |date=September 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816002910/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/20/cnr.06.html |archive-date=August 16, 2009}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sundquist married Ashley Elizabeth Nolan on September 19, 2015, in [St. Michaels, Maryland](/source/St._Michaels%2C_Maryland) and lives in [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California). Sundquist proposed to Nolan in September 2014, after three years of dating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzo8-3LqvqA|title=How I Proposed 💍|last=JoshSundquist|date=October 22, 2014|accessdate=February 20, 2018|via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214113745/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzo8-3LqvqA|archive-date=February 14, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> They have a [pekingese](/source/pekingese) named Mushu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/fashion/weddings/ashley-nolan-and-josh-sundquist-which-one-was-the-right-ashley.html|title=Ashley Nolan and Josh Sundquist: Which One Was the Right Ashley?|work=The New York Times|first=Nina|last=Reyes|date=September 20, 2015|accessdate=January 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925030130/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/fashion/weddings/ashley-nolan-and-josh-sundquist-which-one-was-the-right-ashley.html|archive-date=September 25, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2023, they welcomed a son into their family.<ref>https://joshsundquist.com/motivational-speaker-blog/myson</ref>

==Bibliography==
*''Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain''. New York: Viking. January 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-670-02146-8}}
*''We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, a True Story''. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. December 2014. {{ISBN|9780316260954}}
*''Love and First Sight''. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. January 2017. {{ISBN|9780316305358}}
*''Semi-Famous.'' Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. July 2022. ISBN 9780316629744

==References==
[https://joshsundquist.com/motivational-speaker-blog/myson Josh announcing his son on his website.]{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.JoshSundquist.com/ Official Website]
* [https://www.lessthanfour.org/ Less Than Four.org > Amputee Social Network] founded by Josh Sundquist

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundquist, Josh}}
Category:1984 births
Category:Living people
Category:Alpine skiers at the 2006 Winter Paralympics
Category:American amputees
Category:American motivational speakers
Category:College of William & Mary alumni
Category:Paralympic alpine skiers for the United States
Category:American video bloggers
Category:American Internet celebrities
Category:American male alpine skiers
Category:Sportspeople from Charlottesville, Virginia
Category:People from Harrisonburg, Virginia
Category:American male bloggers
Category:University of Southern California alumni
Category:American male comedians
Category:Comedians from Virginia
Category:21st-century American sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Josh Sundquist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Sundquist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Sundquist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.