Before leaving to compete in the upcoming 2010 Paralympic Games, Jimmy Joseph made a promise to his 2-year-old daughter.
“He said baby, I’m going to bring you back a gold,” said his wife, SueAnn Joseph, recalling the good-by.
Jimmy, 47, of New Hartford, just had to tell his “pride and joy,” Janaya, to expect the best, she added in a phone interview Monday.
Joseph is part of the United States Wheelchair Curling Team that will compete March 13-20 in the Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada.
Pushing round “stones” down an icy surface, the object of the game is to finish each round with your team’s rocks closest to the center of a target over 130 feet away.
Having already taken home the bronze in the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Sursee, Switzerland, the team is hungry for the gold, Jimmy said in a phone interview Monday from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
And if the team makes it all the way, the final match falls on his daugter’s third birthday. “Hopefully, I’ll be playing for a gold medal to bring her home as a present,” he said.
Joseph’s positive approach to competition is a result of the attitude he took after losing his legs almost 22 years ago, SueAnn said. A driver fell asleep and struck Jimmy while he was working in waste removal.
“He cried for like five minutes in the hospital; then he came to realize this is his life and he’s got to do what he can with what God gives him,” she said. “Jim has come a long way and I’m very proud of him.”
For Joseph, the trail to Vancouver began five years ago as a member of the Sitrin STARS adaptive sports program, which is offered by Sitrin Health Care in New Hartford.
Practicing at the Utica Curling Club, Joseph, and fellow STARS, have prepared for and competed in several international championships, including the 2006 Paralympics in Torino, Italy.
Jimmy also participates in Sitrin’s basketball, curling, road racing, padding and golf, winning a variety of accolades for his accomplishments.
New Hartford town and village officials even recently declared Feb. 27 “Jim Joseph Day” in honor of his sporting successes and community service.
Recalling the motivational speeches he has gives to students of all ages, Jimmy summed up what seems to inspire so many to cheer for him.
“I tell them to try to keep on striving no matter what,” he said, “life’s not over because you’re in a wheelchair; you have to keep persevering and keep reaching to be the best you can be.”
It’s really just his overall personality and outlook on life that makes people love him, said his brother-in-law, Thomas Lampron, of Ilion.
To show their support, Lampron and his children built a giant snow sculpture in front of their home at 172 West Street, Ilion.
A luge-like slide made of snow, standing over four feet tall and spanning well over 15 feet, has “go uncle Jimmy” and “USA” in red paint, along with a gold medal and Olympic rings.
The tribute often stops traffic and gets neighborhood kids, who already are big fans of Joseph, to cheer, Lampron said.
“We’re just cheering for Jimmy,” Lampron said, “The whole family’s behind him.”
When Jimmy Joseph and Team USA take the ice (all eastern standard time):
• March 13: vs. Korea at 3:30 p.m.; vs. Canada at 11 p.m.
• March 14: vs. Germany at 3:30 p.m.
• March 15: vs. Italy at 3:30 p.m.; vs. Great Britain at 11 p.m.
• March 16: vs. Sweden at 11 p.m.
• March 17: vs. Norway at 3:30 p.m.; vs. Japan 11 p.m.
• March 18: vs. Switzerland at 3:30 p.m.
• March 19: tiebreaker matches
• March 20 Semifinals at 1 p.m.; Gold Medal match at 6:30 p.m.
Look in upcoming editions of the Evening Telegram, or visit herkimertelegram.com, for updates on Team USA’s progress
