Misplaced Pages

Joël Despaigne
Personal information
Full name	Joël Despaigne Charles
Nickname	El Diablo
Born	(1966-07-02) 2 July 1966 (age 58) Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Outside hitter
Number	4
National team
1986–1996  Cuba
Honours Men's volleyball Representing  Cuba World Championship 1990 Brazil Team FIVB World Cup 1989 Japan 1991 Japan FIVB World League 1991 Italy 1992 Italy 1994 Italy Goodwill Games 1990 Seattle Pan American Games 1991 Havana Team 1987 Indianapolis Team 1995 Mar del Plata Team Central American and Caribbean Games 1986 Santiago de los Caballeros Team

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.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Despaigne, known by his nickname "El Diablo" ("The Devil"), was considered among the best volleyball players in the world. 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). He had about 350 appearances with the Cuban national team.

Despaigne led the Cuban team to the gold medal at the 1989 FIVB World Cup in Japan. He also helped the Cuban team win the silver medal at the 1990 FIVB World Championship in Brazil, and was named the best player in the world in 1990 by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). He then helped the Cuban team win the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, followed by the silver medal at the 1991 FIVB World Cup in Japan.

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.

References

1. ^ "Joël Despaigne". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
2. ^ Farrey, Tom (2 August 1990). "Cuba's Sultan Of Spike -- Some Hail Despaigne As World's Top Player". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
3. Wilbon, Michael (15 August 1991). "Despaigne Leads Cuba to Volleyball Superiority". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
4. ^ Damini, Egle. "Joël Despaigne: history and training of the devil from Cuba that made the volleyball world tremble". Technogym.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
5. "Player tournaments". Volleybox.net. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
6. Harvey, Randy (3 August 1991). "Pan American Games : Fervor Smooths the Rough Spots : Opening: Cubans' warmth after five years of struggle to complete the games' facilities helps offset the poor workmanship on display at some venues". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 September 2024. (subscription required)
7. "2020 Edition". Fair Play Menarini Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
8. Nack, William (22 July 1992). "Put-down Artist". Sports Illustrated. New York City: Time. Retrieved 2 February 2024. (subscription required)

External links

• Joël Despaigne at Olympics.com
• Joël Despaigne at WorldofVolley
• Joël Despaigne at Lega Pallavolo Serie A (in Italian)
• Joël Despaigne at Olympedia
• Volleybox.net profile
• Sports-reference.com profile (archived)
• Spike by Joel Despaigne (YouTube)

• 1966 births
• Living people
• Sportspeople from Santiago de Cuba
• Cuban men's volleyball players
• Volleyball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics
• Volleyball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics
• Olympic volleyball players for Cuba
• Iraklis V.C. players
• Pan American Games gold medalists for Cuba
• Pan American Games bronze medalists for Cuba
• Pan American Games medalists in volleyball
• Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Cuba
• Competitors at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games
• Volleyball players at the 1991 Pan American Games
• Volleyball players at the 1995 Pan American Games
• Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in volleyball
• Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games
• Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games
• 20th-century Cuban people