12 years After severing his spine in a 2009 dirt-bike crash, Hawkesbury’s Joey Desjardins is heading to Tokyo where he hopes to take part in his first Paralympic experience
Desjardins severed his spine at the T5 level, which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Desjardins spent months in the hospital learning how to move again.
He purchased his first adapted bike six months after his injury.
Desjardins said he was inspired to compete in para-cycling after meeting Canadian Paralympic legend Rick Hansen in 2012.
Competing in several world championships, he eventually earning a bronze medal in 2019.
He competes in the H3 category, which includes all para-cyclists with injuries in the thoracic region — from the base of the neck down to the abdomen. It’s the largest category of the five para-cycling classes.
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