Joey Desjardins Joey Desjardins

The only member of Cycling Canada’s 2020 NextGen squad to make the Paralympic Games team for Tokyo, Desjardins competes in the H3 handcycle class, which often has the most entries of any Para cycling division. 

He posted Canada’s best results in the category in Tokyo placing eighth in the road race and 11th in the time trial.

Desjardins started handcycling in 2009 after his injury and initially it was just for fun. He began competing in 2013 and by 2016 he was on Cycling Canada’s radar. He competed at the three world championships between 2018 and 2019 which included a ninth place in the time trial in 2019.

Just prior to those worlds he won his first career World Cup medal placing third in the road race.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2021 Paralympic Games… 2017, 2018, 2019 world championships… 

PERSONAL
Dirt bike crash caused spinal cord injury which left him a paraplegic… Ambassador for Rick Hansen Foundation… Earned business advanced diploma from St. Lawrence College… He and wife Vanessa have two young daughters… 

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

• 2021 Paralympic Games, road race, 8th
• 2021 Paralympic Games, time trial, 11th
• 2019 World Championships, time trial, 9th
• 2019 World Championships, road race, 11th 
• 2018 World Championships, time trial, 12th
• 2018 World Championships, road race, 15th 
• 2017 World Championships, time trial, 14th 
• 2017 World Championships, road race 14th