Included with museum admission.
Josie Fouts is an Asian-American amputee, raised in Toledo, OH, who uses adaptive sports to build community, challenge barriers, and expand ideas of ability.
In 2018, Josie left a science-based career to pursue paracycling full time. That same year, they won three gold medals at the U.S. National Track Cycling Championships in the 3-kilometer individual pursuit and 500-meter time trial and set a national record in the flying 200-meter time trial. Since then, Josie has continued to trailblaze for disability inclusion in the cycling industry – especially in mountain biking – leading their community toward healing and connection through nature.
After being hit by a car while cycling Josie’s path to their first paracycling games were rerouted. Only seven months after breaking their back, however, they returned to elite competition, placing 8th at the World Championships for Team USA in a new sport: paraclimbing, which will debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Josie credits their unconventional climbing style to years of experience cycling.
Today Josie lives in San Diego as an embodied example of intersectionality – where discipline across multiple sports mirrors the lived experience of being a woman of color with a disability. Just as training in cycling and climbing strengthens performance in unexpected ways, navigating overlapping identities builds resistance, perspective and community connection. Through sport, Josie demonstrates how adversity can become a foundation for success – and how on the wall of life, Nothing Can Stopper.
