Austin Smeenk: Racing Beyond Records, Building a Legacy Beyond Sport

A three-time Paralympian, two-time Paralympic medalist, five-time World Championship competitor, and the reigning world record holder in both the 400m and 800m T34 events, Austin is widely considered one of the most dominant athletes in para-athletics today. His career has been built on pure speed, precision, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence – qualities that extend far beyond the finish line.

For Austin, sport has never just been about the podium: it’s been a vehicle, a proving ground, and a platform.

Born to Race

Born with spastic paraplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that impacts lower limb mobility, Austin first discovered wheelchair racing as a young teenager at a local track meet in Ontario. From the moment he rolled onto the track, he was hooked.

“There was something about racing – being in control of my own speed, my own limits. It was freedom,” he says.

By 16, he was racing internationally. By 18, he was a Paralympian. What followed was more than a decade of competition at the world’s highest level, including appearances at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. In 2023, he stunned the field at the World Championships, claiming gold in the 400m and silver in the 100m. At the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, he earned Gold and Bronze medals. These victories weren’t just career milestones – they were culmination points in a journey fueled by discipline, sacrifice, and an unrelenting belief in what’s possible.

And yet, even at the top of his sport, Austin began to feel the edges of a bigger calling.

Redefining What’s Next

Like many elite athletes, Austin had been singularly focused on performance for much of his career: training, competing, and recovering (and repeating). The grind is constant and so is the pressure to deliver.

“I used to think everything in my life needed to make me faster,” he explains. “That was the filter for every decision.”

But after years of high performance – and with multiple records under his belt – Austin began to look up. He realized that the skills he had honed on the track didn’t need to stay there. He began to wonder: What else can I do with this mindset? What else can I build?

As it turned out, quite a lot.

Beyond the Track: A Leader in Sport and Business

In addition to his athletic achievements, Austin now serves on the Board of Directors at Athletics Canada, one of the first Paralympic athletes to hold that seat. There, he advocates for inclusive policy, funding equity, and a greater voice for athletes in national decision-making. It’s a role he takes seriously, and one that has expanded his view of what leadership in sport can look like.

“I realized I didn’t have to stop being an athlete to start being a leader,” he says. “And I didn’t have to leave sport behind to have influence elsewhere.”

Austin has also stepped into the world of public speaking, sharing his story with audiences ranging from students to corporate teams. His message? High performance isn’t just about sport – it’s about mindset, resilience, and the ability to execute under pressure.

“We train ourselves to adapt, to lead, to stay composed when everything’s on the line,” he explains. “Those are the exact same skills businesses are desperate for.”

Finding the Right Partner in Transition

When it came time to start thinking seriously about life beyond competition, Austin knew he needed support. Like many athletes, he hadn’t spent years building a personal brand or exploring off-track opportunities – he’d been too focused on training.

“I literally came back from Paris and realized, ‘Wow, I’ve done nothing for myself outside of racing,’” he laughs. “Free Agent opened my eyes to what’s possible.”

What drew Austin to Free Agent wasn’t just the opportunity, it was the alignment. Like his approach to sport, the agency's model is rooted in high performance. It treats athletes as whole people, with complex stories, valuable insights, and the potential to lead across industries.

“They don’t treat you like a sponsorship vehicle,” he says. “They treat you like a partner. And they push you to dream bigger.”

Now, Austin is working with Free Agent to explore a new chapter – one that may include continued racing through Paris and LA, but also extends into governance, brand partnerships, speaking, and even entrepreneurship. (He still jokes about opening “Podium Power Sports,” a marine and motorsports shop he dreamt of owning as a teen.)

Wherever he lands, it’s clear that Austin Smeenk is no longer just racing for himself – he’s racing toward a future that redefines what it means to be a champion, in and out of sport.

What word does Austin use to describe Free Agent?

“Excellence,” he says. “Free Agent is high performance.”