Athlete | Cyclist | Speaker

World Record Breaker

“The cyclist who never gave up”

It's a tale of determination, grit, and pure, raw human endurance. Having been shared with the likes of Airbnb, Sky TV, Royal Bank of Scotland and Rapha, Josh Quigley's powerful story engages and inspires.

No stranger to adversity, Josh has overcome obstacle after obstacle in the last 7 years. Mental health challenges. A failed suicide attempt. A near fatal crash, hit by a car doing 70mph whilst cycling across America. And yet, he's still here telling his story.

Drawing on huge mental strength and resilience, Josh pushed through these chapters. What happened next?

He completed his 26,000 mile cycle round the world at the 8th attempt. He cycled 2,179 miles in 7 days to set a Guinness World Record. He impacted thousands of lives, through charity fundraising and public speaking work with young people in schools UK-wide.

Surviving Suicide

In the midst of a mental health crisis in 2015, Josh attempted to take his own life.

Driving his car at 70 miles per hour along the M8 motorway, he crashed into a concrete barrier. Miraculously, he survived without a scratch.

Awakening, in both senses, he realised a new future was in store for him, with a higher purpose.

Alcohol had always been a big factor in his identity and culture, but, now, he recognised it was also a driver in his relationship with his mental health. So, he gave it up entirely.

It was time to focus on a different thirst.

Cycling

The next step on his journey was one to regain physical and mental wellbeing. Naturally, he set himself one of the greatest challenges possible: cycling around the world.

In the absolute opposite of peak physical condition - the antithesis of the athlete he is today - and with no cycling experience whatsoever, this new life of opportunity called to him.

Inspired by Olympian and fellow Scot, Sir Chris Hoy, Josh took to the saddle, travelling around Europe and beyond.

It wasn't smooth riding. Faced with roadblocks, literally and figuratively, Josh pedalled on, spreading his message of hope and awareness of mental health issues.

COMMITMENT

After 6 failed attempts, Josh had a 'man in the mirror' moment. He realised it was now or never. Either go for the challenge once again, fully commit to it and finish it... or walk away - forever.

Having come so far, and tried so hard, and cycled so many miles, Josh knew he had to do this, once and for all.

With a renewed energy and drive, Josh climbed back onto his bike on for the 7th attempt to cycle around the world. He set off with a deeply-rooted, resolute commitment to complete it - no matter what. And he never looked back.

After making it across Europe, Asia, Australia and halfway across America, the end was in sight. The goal that had eluded him for the past few years was almost in his grasp.

Then disaster struck.

RECORD BREAKING

Just weeks away from finishing his epic adventure, he was hit with his biggest test of resilience to date: a car travelling 70mph.

His world was turned upside down - literally. He was catapulted 50 feet through the air across a lonely American highway late at night. With a traumatic brain injury, 7 broken ribs, fractures to his pelvis, spine and skull, a broken ankle, heel and shin, plus a punctured lung, he wasn't going anywhere fast.

Having completed a distance of roughly 15,000 miles across 30 countries and 4 continents, Josh's journey was interrupted while he rehabilitated in Texas, and then home to Scotland.

He wasn't out of the saddle for long. Because of the pandemic, he had to stick to cycling in Scotland for a couple of years. But that didn't stop him.

He knew he had to return to America. Travelling to Texas to thank the doctors and nurses who'd saved him from the roadside, he then rode on to New York. After 5 years of trying, with 8 different attempts, and 26,000 miles later, Josh had finally finished what he'd set out to do.

His perseverance paid off.

A world tour interrupted, a world in the midst of Covid. The next turn of the tyre? A world record.

Back in Bonnie Scotland, Josh had, incredibly, recovered from his near-fatal injuries. He was ready to focus on another goal until he could get back across the Atlantic.

Fighting fit, he wanted to take things to the next level and become a record-breaking athlete. So, he stepped up, setting the fastest ever time to cycle the iconic North Coast 500 - 516 miles in 31 hours and 19 minutes, just 9 months after that near fatal accident in America.

Another accident followed on a 40mph downhill descent in Dubai on a winter training camp. Another long list of injuries: a broken collarbone, shoulder, elbow, 4 ribs, and pubic bone, plus spinal and pelvic fractures. Another dusting himself off, getting back up, getting on with the next challenge.

This time, he went all guns blazing for the greatest distance cycled in a week. He failed the first time, having to pull out with a knee injury.

Despite doing 1200 miles in 4 days - an astronomical contrast to where he first started out, and to his original goal - it now wasn't enough. Josh was undeterred.

Unpaced. Unrelentless. Unmatched. Josh was awarded the Guinness World Record for the Greatest Distanced Cycled in One Week.

Josh completed 2,179 miles (3,507.8km) in 7 days, flying the flag on home soil.

The boy who originally got on a bike simply looking to turn his life around and be happier, had evolved into an elite athlete. He was now a world record breaker.

His legacy was secured.

In the last couple of years, Josh met Megan, and has settled down in Scotland with a wedding to plan. He's since been working with schools and corporate organisations, raising awareness and education of mental health matters and sharing his inspirational story.

As an ambassador for a number of charities, he's raised £40,000 for causes such as mental health, food poverty and arthritis support.

Now racing and competing, he's got his eyes on the prize: to reach the highest level of professional cycling - the Tour de France.