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When you meet Josie Fouts for the first time, it's hard not to crack a smile. This young woman is vibrant, enthusiastic, and oozes good old-fashioned positivity. Her smile is as wide as they come, and her passion is contagious.

Josie, an avid paracyclist turned elite competitor and declares herself "Ms.Stubbornness" on Instagram. This year she has thrown her hat in the ring for the Paralympic Games 2021 in Tokyo this fall.

If you are familiar with the world of cycling, then you know it's not an easy road to ride, especially as a woman. The research provided by male counterparts backs most training advice. Add amputee to the equation, and we feel pretty confident most people wouldn't even dare set foot on a bike. Not Josie!

"Being, a woman pursuing an athletic goal is an uphill battle," Josie confirms. "And cycling in the States is minimized as a successful career path... [but] as a congenital amputee adapted to a two-handed world since birth, my unique situation has prepared me to navigate both inequalities with vigor!" She exclaims. "When the opportunity to train to be a paracyclist at the highest level presented itself, I accepted the challenge without hesitation. This mindset is my 'upper hand' (pun intended)!"

Josie's desire to compete on the global stage only rivals her fire to transform the paracycling world. She's determined to shape new opportunities for para-athletes and women alike. When we asked what words of wisdom she would pass on to the next generation of competitive women she shared this, "Life will always have its ups and downs. The bike ride will always have its hills and valleys. Our hormones will always have their highs and lows. This is the natural cycle of everything; don't fight it, just roll with the flow."

Join us as we watch aspirations, become reality, and reality become the inspiration that paves a new path for paracyclists around the world.