ICYMI: Josh Turek Talks Connection Between Sports and Politics

ICYMI: Josh Turek Talks Connection Between Sports and Politics

Josh: “It was the great honor of my life to be able to wear USA across my chest”

Des Moines, IA – In case you missed it, four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist Josh Turek joined Chris Hayes last night to talk about how his career as a professional wheelchair basketball player informs his view of politics. 

Josh talked about the pride he felt representing the USA at the Paralympics, his experience looking beyond partisanship to find common ground, and how his experience representing the United States on the field of play is similar to his promise to be a Senator for all Iowans. 

He also talked about the grit it took to get cut from the national team six times – and keep coming back until he made the team – and how that same determination is fueling his U.S. Senate campaign.

Missed it? See below for the highlights. 

• “When you’re there at the Olympics and the Paralympics, you’re really the physical embodiment of your country. And it’s something that I really thought a lot about, that while I was there, I was not only representing my family, I was representing my community of Council Bluffs, Iowa, I was representing the state of Iowa, but really I was representing all of America. And it was a great honor to do it. And it’s something that has really kind of defined the way that I look at politics, too. When I was there, I never really thought that I was representing just the Democrats or just the Republicans. I was representing everybody.”
• “It was part of that mental strength and character that allowed me to get cut six straight years from the national team and still kept coming back […] I told myself that I refuse to give up, that grit and determination of ‘I’m going to represent my country on the field of play and I’m going to win gold medals.’ […] I said, ‘I’m going to keep coming back and eventually I’m going to get good enough that you’re not going to cut me.’ And it’s, I think it’s that same grit and determination, that same discipline and hard work that allowed me –  I mean, I was told initially when I decided to run for the state legislature, Josh, this is too red of a district, you can’t win out here as a Democrat. And I said, ‘Look, I’m going to do this the same way that I won gold medals: I’m going to go out there and I’m going to outwork my opponent. So, what I did, rain or shine, hot or cold, I drug my wheelchair upstairs, to have conversations with folks.’” 
• “It’s the same conversation I hear now, how can a kid from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who has only been involved in politics for four years win a U.S. Senate seat. And I say, why not?”