Paralympic Javelin Thrower Justin Phongsavanh Had Other Plans For His Life
In Paris, Justin Phongsavanh is looking to set the bar high again — topping his third-place finish from Tokyo.
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Athlete Bio#
Height
6'2"
Age
27
Hometown
Des Moines, IA
Education
Des Moines Area Community College
classification: T54/F54
Personal
- Son of Tamera Shinn
- Was involved in football, track and field, wrestling and rugby in high school
- In October 2015, Phongsavanh and his friend were gunned down in a fast food parking lot which resulted in him being shot and paralyzed below the waist
- After spending four months in the hospital and undergoing physical therapy, he returned home and realized he had the desire to compete again
- Five months after his injury, he reached out to Adaptive Sports Iowa to learn more about Paralympic sport opportunities
- Hobbies include fishing, playing with his dog and hanging out with his friends
Paralympic Experience
- 2-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 bronze)
- Paralympic Games Paris 2024, 4th (Javelin Throw F54 - Men)
- Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, bronze (Javelin Throw F54 - Men)
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 2024 – 4th (Javelin Throw F54 - Men)
- Years of participation: Javelin Throw F54 - Men 2019, 2024
- Top finish: 4th – 2019 (Javelin Throw F54 - Men), 2024 (Javelin Throw F54 - Men)
