Joshua Turek

Joshua Turek (born April 12, 1979) is an American politician serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 20th district. He was formerly a wheelchair basketball player and a member of the United States men's national wheelchair basketball team.

Joshua Turek
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 20th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byCharlie McConkey
Personal details
Born (1979-04-12) April 12, 1979
Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJarolin
EducationSouthwest Minnesota State University (BA History, MBA)
Joshua Turek
Personal information
Nickname(s)Josh
NationalityAmerican
Born (1979-04-12) April 12, 1979
Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Sport
SportWheelchair basketball
DisabilitySpina bifida
Disability class3.5
Coached byRon Lykins
Medal record
Men's wheelchair basketball
Representing the  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
Gold medal – first place2020 TokyoTeam
Bronze medal – third place2012 LondonTeam
World Championship
Silver medal – second place2014 IncheonTeam
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place2011 GuadalajaraTeam
Gold medal – first place2015 TorontoTeam
Gold medal – first place2019 LimaTeam

Political career

Turek announced he was running for Iowa's 20th House of Representatives district in March 2022.[1] After a recount requested by his Republican opponent Sarah Abdouch, it was confirmed Turek won the election by six votes.[2][3] He assumed office on January 9, 2023. He has worked extensively as an advocate for disabled people. He enters the Iowa state legislature as the first permanently disabled member in its history.[4]

Paralympic career

Turek has represented the United States in Wheelchair basketball at the Summer Paralympics four times, finishing in seventh place in 2004, winning a bronze medal in 2012 and gold medals in 2016 and 2020.[5]

Personal life

Turek was born with spina bifida and has been a wheelchair user since childhood.[6] His brother, John, and sister, Elisha, are both retired professional basketball players.[7]

References
  1. Brownlee, Mike (March 10, 2022). "Turek announces run for Iowa House District 20". The Daily Nonpareil. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  2. Golbitz, David (November 24, 2022). "District 20 recount confirms Turek victory by miniscule margin". The Daily Nonpareil. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. "2022 Iowa State House - District 20 Election Results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. "Meet Iowa Legislature's new, diverse lawmakers". The Des Moines Register. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. "Wheelchair Basketball - Joshua Turek". Tokyo2020.org. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  6. Simmons, Taj (October 2, 2022). "Champion Paralympian from Iowa shares spina bifida story". who13.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. "Josh Turek". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
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