Josie Fouts Wants Mountain Biking in the Paralympics, and She Won't Take No for an Answer

Josie Fouts is a two-time National Paralympics Road and Track Cycling Champion with plans to compete at the 2021 Games in Tokyo. She's also working to make mountain biking a Paralympic sport and stars in a new short film called Go Josie. In this episode, we ask Josie: Have you found being stubborn is a strength? Does it ever get you in trouble? Are you able to use your formal education in nutrition and nutritional immunology as a part of your own training?  What is the level of competition like at the US National Paralympics? Were you surprised the first time you competed? How difficult is it to find off-the-shelf products that work for para athletes? Have you found gear manufacturers are willing to work with you to find solutions? What’s it been like working with a gear sponsor like Swiftwick?  Are there things the bike industry could be doing to make equipment more para-friendly?  Why do you think mountain biking is not a part of the Paralympics? What do you do to keep your workouts interesting? Is training fun for you? Were there any surprises on the first bikepacking trip you recently completed? Are there other challenges you’ve set for yourself this year in addition to competing in Tokyo? View the short film Go Josie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1GfDjyUBJ4 Follow Josie on Instagram @ms.stubbornness. Thanks to Josie's sponsor Swiftwick for arranging this interview. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks