Joël Despaigne

Joël Despaigne Charles (born 2 July 1966), more commonly known as Joël Despaigne, is a retired volleyball player from Cuba who represented his native country in two consecutive Summer Olympics: the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona (fourth place) and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta (sixth place). He was the captain of the Cuban national volleyball team in the early 1990s. He was known for his jumping ability, with a vertical jump estimated to be around 40 inches (1.02 m). He was a powerful spiker, with a spike speed of about 75 miles per hour (121 kph).

Coaching

Despaigne lives in Italy and works as a volleyball coach.

Awards and accolades

Despaigne was a torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the 1991 Pan American Games.

In 2020, Despaigne won a Fair Play Menarini International Award in the category of "Fair Play" for his sportsmanship.

Personal life

Despaigne married María Teresa Santamaría, who was a member of the Cuban women's national volleyball team in the 1980s.