Accident recovery inspires Soldier to compete in triathlon

SAN DIEGO — On a clear spring day in 2018, James Paska stopped his bike at the intersection of a busy street in his hometown of Florham Park, New Jersey.

The Soldier neared the end of his commute from his job as an Army recruiter. Paska saw the stoplight flash green and began peddling.

A car suddenly swerved in front of him, making a sharp turn. The front of the vehicle struck the side of Paska, knocking him off his bike, and onto the top of the car’s hood.

Paska’s head crashed through the windshield. Emergency responders on the scene later told him they expected to find a dead body. Instead, Paska miraculously walked away from the wreck.

His helmet saved his life.

The Soldier suffered severe contusions. But fortunately for Paska, doctors told him his physical fitness and training regiment helped prevent any bone fractures. . Paska later learned that the driver of the vehicle had been texting while driving.

While he suffered minimal physical injuries, the collision left him emotionally and mentally scarred.

“[The accident] reminded me how quickly your life can change,” said Paska, now the first sergeant of the Seattle Recruiting Company.

He said he later sought mental health treatment. But he said he found his true therapy running triathlon and endurance sports.

He said the 2018 accident spurred him to raise the intensity of his training and workouts. He also raced in the 207-mile Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

“Mental health is super important, so acknowledging a traumatic incident in your life, learn from it but don’t live in it,” he said. “Of course, you don't forget about it, but triathlon is a way for me to have an outlet and improve my life.”

Paska had to overcome the odds since he entered the military.

The Soldier enlisted out of high school in 2002 as a 13B cannon crewmember. At only 117 pounds, Paska entered basic training as the smallest recruit in his company. After graduating from Advanced Individual Training, he gradually built up his physical fitness over his first 10 years in the Army to meet the demands of his duties.

As a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, he went on three combat deployments.

He had already began training for endurance sports after changing career fields and becoming an Army recruiter, but the accident refocused him to take his training a step further.

Paska studied holistic health and recovery while engaging in more endurance training. He adopted a vegan diet and cut out unnecessary fats and sugars.

“I was extremely motivated to get back on my feet and moving,” Paska said. “And that's kind of when I decided to really commit to triathlon.”

“[The accident] set me up for an opportunity to do something in my life instead of feeling sorry for myself.”

He started gradually improving on his swim and bolstering his abilities bike riding and running. He competed in his first triathlon at Atlantic City in 2019 and has raced six half Iron Man events since. Last year he travelled to San Francisco, taking part in an Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and a 70.3-quarter lane race in Idaho.

As an Army recruiter, he tries to impart that message to his recruits. He said the Army provides an avenue for potential Soldiers to cultivate their talents and reach their goals in fitness or in their military careers.

“I just want to remind everybody across the Army that Soldiers do go the distance,” he said. “Age should be measured by energy, not just the number. And we're never too old to start.”

His training culminated into earning a spot on the All-Army Triathlon team. At 41 years old, the New Jersey native was the oldest member of the squad and only enlisted Soldier. But the 23-year Army veteran achieved a goal that he set years ago.

At the 2025 Armed Forces Triathlon Championships in San Diego, Paska finished in 23rd with a time of 2:43:11. He said the opportunity last September inspired him to continue competing in triathlons.

He plans to compete in a triathlon in Oregon in 2026 and try out for the All-Army Triathlon team once again.

“I don't think about my age. I'm grateful every single day I get to wake up,” he said. “You have 86,400 seconds in a day; I want to maximize my time. I want to create memories and continue this experience.”