Joanne Berdan

Joanne Berdan (née Bouw born May 1, 1963) is a Canadian medallist in Paralympic athletics. During her Paralympic career, Berdan won a total of 10 Paralympic medals. She was inducted into both the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame and Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2003.

Joanne Berdan
Personal information
Birth nameJoanne Bouw
Born (1963-05-01) May 1, 1963
St. Catharines, Ontario
Sport
CountryCanada
SportParalympic athletics
DisabilityCerebral palsy
Retired1996
Medal record
Athletics
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke MandevilleJavelin throw C7
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke MandevilleShot put C7
Gold medal – first place1988 SeoulDiscus C7
Gold medal – first place1988 SeoulJavelin throw C7
Gold medal – first place1988 SeoulShot put C7
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona/MadridDiscus C5–8
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona/MadridJavelin throw C5–8
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona/MadridShot put C5–8
Bronze medal – third place1984 New York/Stoke MandevilleLong jump C7
Bronze medal – third place1984 New York/Stoke MandevilleDiscus throw C7

Early life and education

Berdan was born on May 1, 1963, in St. Catharines, Ontario.[1] She completed her post-secondary studies at the University of Toronto in 1986.[2]

Career

Berdan won her first Paralympic medals at the 1984 Summer Paralympics. She won a gold in shot put and javelin alongside a bronze in discus and long jump. At the following Paralympics, Berdan was gold in the discus, javelin and shot put events during the 1988 Summer Paralympics. Her final Paralympic medals were at the 1992 Summer Paralympics where she repeated her three golds medals from the previous Paralympics.[1]

Alongside her Paralympic medals in 1992, Berdan broke the world records for shot put and discus in the cerebral palsy sport classification.[3] While she competed at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in the shot put and discus, Berdan did not medal.[4] Outside of the Paralympics, Berdan won gold at the 1990 World Championships and Games for the Disabled and the 1994 IPC Athletics World Championships.[1] She ended her sports career in 1996 and is currently working in pharmacy.[5]

Awards and honours

In 2002, Berdan was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal.[6] The following year, Berdan was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame [4] and the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.[3] Other hall of fame inductions include the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association Hall of Fame in 2005 [7] and the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.[2]

Personal life

Berdan is married and has one child.[7]

References
  1. "Joanne Berdan". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. Iancovich, Valerie (8 May 2015). "Joanne Berdan to be first Paralympian inducted into U of T Sports Hall of Fame". University of Toronto. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. "Previous Hall of Fame Inductees". Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. "Joanne Berdan, athlete". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. "Hall of Fame Joanne Berdan (Bouw)". University of Toronto Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. "Find a Recipient". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  7. "Joanne Berdan". Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
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