Kimberley son Josh Dueck has today been named Canada’s chef de mission for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Now a Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame member, Dueck earned a gold medal in super combined alpine skiing and silver in downhill in Sochi, Russia in 2014 after capturing silver in sitting slalom in 2010. The 39-year-old was also Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony in Sochi.

“I hope to be fearlessly authentic in my life, work, and actions as chef de mission in an effort to inspire and challenge the entire team, as well as Canadians from coast to coast to coast, to be brave in the face of adversity,” said Dueck in a Canadian Paralympic Committee media release. “One measure of success will be to see the athletes achieve, and exceed, their competitive goals at the Games. Winning may not be everything to everyone, nor should it be. As my father would tell me, the intrinsic reward is sufficient. My hope is that each athlete and coach feel they have done everything in their control to prepare themselves for their moment to shine.”

Now living in Vernon with his wife Lacey and children Nova and Hudson, Dueck said, “When I got the call with the news that I was named to lead the Canadian Paralympic Team my mind started to dance with possibility.

“To be a champion for sport, friend, and mentor to the athletes, and part of the support team for Canada at the Paralympic Games is an incredible privilege. There is a great sense of honour and duty that comes with this storied role, and I look forward to learning from our history and building on this legacy with our teams.”

As chef de mission, the 2018 BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee will promote and celebrate the Canadian Paralympic Team, share his experience and guidance with athletes, coaches, and staff, and be a significant member of Canada’s leadership team as it looks to provide the best possible environment for all athletes to thrive and have a positive experience, the Canadian Paralympic Committee outlined.

Dueck is currently executive director of Freestyle BC, in addition to his work as a peer mentor, motivational speaker, and ambassador, spreading his message of hope, sharing his story of overcoming adversity, and promoting active living.

Dueck, who was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame last year, also worked as a broadcaster with CBC at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

“We could not be more pleased to have Josh come on board for Beijing 2022,” said Marc-André Fabien, president, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “He is the epitome of strong athlete leadership and will bring so much positive energy, thoughtful introspection, fresh ideas, and valuable support to the team. He is incredibly well respected within the sport community, has been a longtime passionate advocate for Paralympic sport, and brings in many different experiences and perspectives from his many roles in sport. We know his leadership and presence will make a difference for the entire Canadian Paralympic Team in Beijing.”

See today’s announcement…

https://paralympic.ca/

JoshDueck.com photo

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