Josh Hanlon’s sporting pathway looked very different at age 15 compared to now. Back then, he was a budding Australian Rules footy player and was selected as a member of the Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy teams for four years until the U19s.
At age 20, Hanlon came down with a severe bacterial infection, which included toxic shock and sepsis and became a double below-knee amputee and is missing his right hand at the wrist. During Hanlon’s three months in hospital, he turned 21 and said he “got my legs and walked out”, proudly walking strongly on his prosthetics within two weeks of his illness.
By the 2019/20 season, the Central West NSW product was on his first overseas trip with the Australian Winter Para-alpine development squad, classified as an LW-12/2, and started aiming towards representing his country at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Hanlon made his Paralympic debut at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, commencing his campaign with the Men’s Giant Slalom Sitting event where he finished in an impressive 11th place with a combined time of 2:09.81. He finished the Games with an exceptional sixth place with a time of 1:43.68 in the Men’s Slalom Sitting event.
Outside of competition, Hanlon enjoys shooting, the gym and motorbike riding. He’s studying for a Certificate 3 and 4 in physical fitness and feels passionate about helping kids with a disability become involved in sport.
