In October of 1987, Jimmy sustained an accident to his lower extremities while at work. He was immediately rushed to the hospital in critical condition, though he remained awake through the ordeal because of shock. After surgery, he awoke to a double leg amputation, a life-defining moment for him.

“I turned and rested my head on the pillow for a few minutes,” Jimmy said. “Then, I got the attitude that this was going to be life now and I had to move on.”

The positivity he mustered in that moment was what would propel him throughout an illustrious sporting career and impactful life.

Unbeknownst to Jimmy, his life would soon take another remarkable turn when he was introduced to the Sitrin STARS program by an adaptive athlete. After meeting with Marc DePerno, director of the program, he began training for the Boilermaker Wheelchair Challenge and participating in wheelchair basketball. Both outlets were fun and gave him the push he needed to tap into his athleticism, but it was when he tried curling that he truly fell in love with the sport.

Joseph immediately excelled in curling, ultimately reaching the Paralympic level. He went through massive preparation to build his endurance, strategy, and strength, traveling to curling camps and training both at home and abroad. He became a constant in the world of curling, pairing with countless teammates on Team USA, while also remaining the spark plug of the team.

He participated in three Paralympic Winter Games and ten World Championships, traveling throughout Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Russia, Korea, Czech Republic, and beyond. Each time, he brought energy, positivity, and encouragement to his fellow teammates and to spectators throughout the world.

“I love entertaining the crowd,” Jimmy said. “Curling has been a huge draw for the community, and people like to see us competing, while also having fun.”

Jimmy has had other extraordinary moments in his curling career, including visiting the White House multiple times, and meeting three presidents. In 2008, he and Team USA took home the bronze medal, and in 2020 he received the USA Wheelchair Curling Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and advocacy in the sport of adaptive curling.

Now in his 60s, he continues with road racing, training along fellow STARS athlete, Hermin Garic.

“Curling is a team sport, but in racing, I control my own destiny” Jimmy said.

Road racing has pushed him to increase his athletic prowess, and boosted him to be in the best shape of his life. He has no plans to stop competing, and sees a future for himself in marathon racing. Nevertheless, the thing that he treasures most is getting out in the community and showing people that having a disability doesn’t define you as a person.

As an athlete, motivational speaker, and eternal optimist, Jimmy continues to put a smile on the faces of everyone he meets.