Albert Lee

Albert Lee (born 17 October 1962) is an Australian double leg amputee athlete who participated at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in sitting volleyball. Lee lost his legs in a train accident when he was 20 years old. Despite this, he has competed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, achieved world records, and is a qualified optometrist who studied at the University of New South Wales. Lee is involved in many philanthropic activities and has a multitude of appointments.

Personal life Lee was born on 17 October 1962. He married his wife Anne in 1998. Together they have two sons – Jonathan and Mitchel. Lee has interests in team sports, fitness, and adventures. Lee lives in Sydney where he is a registered optometrist.

Amputation On February 20, 1983, Lee was in involved in an accident where he fell under a train

In Australia, there are 8000 lower limb amputations performed annually due to various causes. Sex, age and type 2 diabetes are all key factors when determining the relative risk rate for lower limb amputations in the Australia. Being male can result in a 15-32% increase in relative risk for lower limb amputation.

When amputation occurs at a younger age - less than 35 years old - the effect on risk rate due to sex is emphasized. By being a young male, one would be at a higher relative risk for lower limb amputation due to any cause than one's female counterparts at that stage of life.

Sporting career Lee participates in sports and he has significant achievements in sitting volleyball and sailing.

Sitting volleyball Lee represented Australia at the 2000 Paralympics for sitting volleyball which was held from 18 until 29 October in Sydney, Australia. The team consisted of 11 members which included Edward Bray, Paul Croft, Darren Gay, Lee, Brant North, Kevin Price, Glenn Pyne, Brett Roworth, Greg Sobczak, Bruce Thompson, and Mark Whiteman.

The team known as the 'Crabs', played five matches in the preliminary round of the competition where they were placed in group B and were to play against teams from Egypt, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, and Korea. They lost to Egypt, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Korea by 3 sets to 0. They also lost to Libya by 3 sets to 2. The team played 2 further matches in the classification rounds of the competition. In the classification for places 9–12, the team lost to Japan by 3 sets to 1. In the classification for places 11 and 12, the team managed their first international win against the United States of America by 3 sets to 1. This was the only win resulted in the team finishing eleventh out of the twelve teams that competed. Lee competed in 1994, 1996, and 2013 with the Making Waves Foundation.

Lee competed in 1996; however, the team broke their boat's boom and the vessel had to be retired which led to an incomplete attempt.

In 2013, Lee raced on the 'Faceboat' which was skippered by Kirk Watson who was accompanied by his guide dog 'Tiller'. The vessel was a custom built yacht made specially to suit the needs of its disabled crew. The crew was made up of D Pescud (20) (navigator), G Johnstone (8), M Thomson (7), R Speedy (10), D Leslie (1), C Josling (10), B Allen (3), K Moore, A Lee (4), B Canham (6), D D'annunzio, G Kennedy, T Purkiss, G Donovan, and R Sealey. After Lee's first Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1994, he said he had "for the first time in my life since my accident I felt free. I was out on the ocean with a crew who had disabilities second. We were sailors first." He also loves the team spirit and unity between the crew.

Philanthropy Lee is involved in many philanthropic activities. His desire to help others stems from kindness the people around him showed him during his own tough times. When it comes to providing others with support, Albert says "when we can, we need to look after the people that need help, we need to encourage them to stand on their own and be part of the solution". Lee has an interest in public health and enjoys giving back to the community. He has contributed as a clinical supervisor in the UNSW clinic. He has been on trips to Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, the Tiwi Islands, the Northern Territory While Lee enjoys showing people how abled disabled people are, he also loves the team spirit and camaraderie that the Making Waves Foundation's team emulates.