During the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Southwest Minnesota State University alumnus Josh Turek helped Team USA win a bronze medal in wheelchair basketball.

Team USA, which had not taken home a medal since the 2000 Sydney Games, defeated Great Britain in the bronze medal match 61-46. During the game, Turek scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Throughout the course of the Games, Turek averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

During his time at SMSU (1997-2002), Turek, a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, became the highest scorer in Mustang wheelchair basketball history, recording 4,024 career points and 1,213 rebounds. In 2002, Turek was named SMSU male student-athlete of the year. He was also honored as team MVP four times, as well as being a four-time All-American and team captain for three years.

To this day, Turek holds the school single-season records in points and field goals made. He also holds school single-game records for free throws made, 3-point field goals, and points scored.

In his senior year, Turek led the Mustangs to an overall season record of 27-10. That same season, Turek was named MVP at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Regional Tournament. In 2001, he was a member of the US Junior World Championship Team.

Turek is currently playing professional wheelchair basketball for a team in Spain. He has played professionally in Europe for the last decade. He began his European career upon graduating from SMSU after being approached by scouts for an Italian team. Turek played for the team from Cantu, Italy from 2002-2004, when he made the US Paralympic Team.

Following the 2004 Athens Games, Turek became part of a team from Getafe, Spain, which he continues to play for today. In 2011, he helped his team to a gold medal at the Parapan American Games.