Hall of Fame
Joanne Berdan was one of Canada’s finest Paralympic athletes during the 1980s and early 1990s, holding world records in the shot put, discus and javelin for athletes with cerebral palsy. Competing at four Paralympic Summer Games, Berdan won gold medals in her class for the three throwing disciplines at both the 1988 and 1992 Games, while establishing world records in shot put and discus at the 1992 Games. She also set a world record in javelin at the 1990 world championships, where she was also selected as the Canadian flag bearer. She totalled 10 medals, including eight gold, over three Paralympic Games from 1984-92.
Joanne retired from competition in August 1996. Her world records stood until the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
She has been inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame, was the inaugural inductee in the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association Hall of Fame, and received the King Clancy Award from the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons for contributing to the betterment of other people lives. She was also inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame as an outstanding role model and inspiration.
Joanne was the first Para athlete nominated for Canadian Female Athlete of the Year honours in 1990. Joanne is currently a staff pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart in Bobcaygeon.
