Justin Phongsavanh

Competitor

Justin grew up in a small town in Iowa just outside of Des Moines. He was in foster care from the age of two, bouncing between numerous relatives before finally being adopted. And it was his adoptive mother who immediately recognized the immense talent and potential Justin possessed. So, she worked tirelessly for 12 hours a day so Justin could excel as he grew up. “My mom is everything. She’s my number one girl,” Justin proclaimed. Plus, according to Justin, she makes the best meatloaf. Fueled by his mom’s cooking and support, Justin dedicated himself to sports. And his hard work and athleticism paid off, as he was recruited by multiple colleges to play football and throw on the track and field team.

But his life changed forever on October 25, 2015, as Justin and his friend were assaulted by an unknown man after leaving a fast-food restaurant. While Justin quickly tried to deescalate the situation, five shots rang out. Justin hit the ground, and the man fled. Justin knew immediately that something was very wrong. “A shot went in my upper arm and down through my lung. It splintered into five fragments, and one went straight into my spine,” Justin recalled. “I knew when I couldn’t sit up that it was immediate paralysis.”

The aftermath of the senseless attack plunged Justin into despair and left him contemplating the unthinkable. “I just didn’t know what my life was going to be. I couldn’t be an athlete, in my mind. I couldn’t hold a job. I would have to rely on others.” Justin knew he had two options: Choose to end his pain and suffering or see what his new life had to offer. Although it would be challenging in ways he’d never experienced, his new life was his choice.

But paralysis wasn’t going to hold Justin back. “Once I started to get a grasp on my disability and where I wanted to be, I started working towards it,” Justin explained. He immediately enrolled in community college. But as an athlete, he missed his days throwing shot put and the thrill of competition. So, he reached out to his local adaptive sports club not really knowing what to expect. He was pleasantly surprised to find out that he could still compete in Para track and field, which would be the start of his path to becoming one of the best javelin throwers in the world.

“The rest of my life immediately flooded my mind. But I decided to grab the bull by the horns and see what this life has to offer.”

Champion

The javelin throw is a discipline within track and field. The goal for all throwing events is simple—the athlete who throws the farthest wins. For ambulatory athletes competing in the javelin throw, they get a running start before launching the javelin. For seated athletes, there is a specialized throwing chair to throw from a stationary position.

Justin was able to secure a throwing chair and fell in love with javelin. He went from competing in local events to traveling all around the United States, breaking numerous national records in the sport along the way. After winning gold at the US Paralympic Track and Field Nationals, he knew he was more than capable of competing on a grander stage against the world’s best. “That’s when I started to get a little chip on my shoulder and knew I wanted to represent my country on the highest stages,” Justin revealed.

To ensure he was prepared, he packed up his things from his childhood home in Iowa and made the cross-country drive to live and train at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. There, he was able to get what an elite athlete needs to succeed: nutrition advice, strength training, physical therapy, and access to some of the best coaches and technology in the world. “My coach is everything. She’s an expert in this craft. I put all my trust in her and the techniques we’ve established over the years,” Justin explained. “And the advantages of looking at the data and the analytics is tremendous. We can not only look at different angles in real time but also study them to see trends, problem areas, and strengths.”

Justin kept racking up medals, winning another gold at his first international competition during the Parapan American Games in 2019 and placing fourth at the World Championships later that year. At the US Paralympic Team trials, Justin came up into the throwing box, grabbed his javelin, and let it fly. And with that throw, he not only secured a spot as a member of Team USA but also broke the world record throwing distance by nearly four feet.

Once he arrived in Tokyo for the Paralympic Games, he was able to utilize all the training and support he received since becoming paralyzed. In his inaugural Games, Justin threw that six-foot-long spear far enough to reach the podium and bring home a bronze medal for his country.