Para-athlete Josh Kennison of South Paris won the bronze medal in the 100m T43 sprint at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, on July 22. Kennison finished the race in 11.93 seconds, earning the first world championship medal in his career.
Nearly 1,100 athletes from 99 countries competed in the IPC Athletics World Championships July 19-28. Kennison was one of six competitors in his division for the 100-meter sprint, placing third just behind fellow American Blake Leeper, who placed second. The winner of the race, Alan Fonteles Oliveira of Brazil, set a new world record with a time of 10.80.
Kennison also competed in the 200-meter sprint, placing fifth with a time of 24.12. He qualified for the World Championships at the U.S. Paralympic Nationals in San Antonio, Texas, and is now focusing on training for the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
“This was my first world meet, and I was just excited to go across the world to compete. Bringing home a medal was a plus,” Kennison said. “I’m excited to get back into training in a few weeks and get ready for the 2014 season.”
Kennison’s future goals include becoming the best U.S. sprinter in his class, medaling at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships and also winning a medal at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
For now, Kennison will take some time off from training to visit Camp No Limits, an organization he has been involved with since 2005 that supports children and families with limb loss. Kennison also works with the Never Say Never Foundation to provide support for amputees, and is a recipient of the 2010 Amway Hero Award.
Despite being born without feet, arms, tongue or half of his jaw, Kennison never let anything stand in his way. After becoming a member of the USA Paralympic Track Team, he won four medals at the 2010 Endeavor Games, and broke the world record for the long jump with a distance of 5.54 meters at the 2013 Desert Challenge Games.
Kennison will be signing autographs on Friday, Aug.16, 2013 from noon to 3 p.m. at Norway Savings Bank, located at 261 Main Street in Norway.
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