Joel Dembe is a Paralympian (London 2012), and a two-time Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis Champion. Tennis has allowed him to travel all over the world to compete. He is currently training for the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games.
A benign spinal tumour removed at birth caused partial paralysis. By the age of 7 Joel was using a wheelchair but has always been very active in sports playing track and field, sledge hockey, baseball and golf. He discovered tennis at age 14 when he met Frank Peter Jr., one of Canada’s star wheelchair tennis players. In 2010 he left his job as a marketing analyst on Bay Street. "To be the best, I had to commit to tennis full time. It was my choice, and that meant I had to leave a good job and spend a minimum of 15 hours a week on the tennis court." At 19 years old he was the youngest member of the Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis team and has been ranked the number one player in Canada.
Joel’s Awards and Prizes
- 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
- 2012 London Paralympian
- 2012 BNP Paribas World Team Cup squad member
- 2012 ITF Birmingham Canadian Classic finalist singles
- 2012 ITF Futures Guadalajara Open winner
- 2012 Stanley Park Open and Midwest Championships finalist
- 2012 & 2011 Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis Champion, Singles & Doubles)
- 2012 & 2011 Wheelchair Tennis Athlete of the Year
- 2011 Canadian Male Wheelchair Athlete of the Year
- 2011 Guadalajara Parapan American participant
More Information
Twitter: @joeldembe
“London 2012: Joel Dembe makes a racket heading into Paralympics,” Toronto Star, June 19, 2012