Interviews

Paralympic Gold Medalist Richard Colman

Published

January 29, 2020

Paralympic gold medalist Richard Colman AM joins the Hustle & Motivate podcast, presented by Joker Mag, the home of the underdog

Credit-Richard Colman AM/Joker Mag Illustration

Richard Colman AM is a Paralympic athlete who represented Australia in four Paralympics. Richard was born with spina bifida, the second most common disability in the world behind cerebral palsy.

Competing primarily in category T53 sprint events, Richard has won multiple gold medals and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014.

He is also the first person in a wheelchair to complete the Death Road in Bolivia.

Listen to our conversation by tapping the play button below. Or tap the icon of your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go!

Show Notes

[1:57] The advantages of disability

[5:12] Winning gold at his first Paralympics

[10:06] Becoming the first person in a wheelchair to complete the Death Road in Bolivia

[14:19] Bouncing back from failure & advice for others

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Thanks for listening! Check out these related stories:

How Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham Invented Wheelchair Motocross

Legendary College Baseball Coach Mr. George Bennett

How Ali Truwit Turned A Life-Altering Attack Into An Inspiring Quest For Paralympic Glory

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Written By Tyler O'Shea

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.