| Joël Despaigne | |
| Fullname: | Joël Despaigne Charles |
| Nickname: | El Diablo |
| Birth Date: | 2 July 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Height: | 1.91 m |
| Position: | Outside hitter |
| Teamnumber: | 4 |
| Nationalyears: | 1986–1996 |
Joël Despaigne Charles (born 2 July 1966, in Santiago de Cuba), more commonly known as Joël Despaigne, is a retired volleyball player from Cuba who represented his native country in two consecutive Summer Olympics: the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona (fourth place) and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta (sixth place).[1] He was the captain of the Cuban national volleyball team in the early 1990s.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Despaigne, known by his nickname "El Diablo" ("The Devil"), was considered among the best volleyball players in the world.[2] He was known for his jumping ability, with a vertical jump estimated to be around 40 inches (1.02 m).[3] He was a powerful spiker, with a spike speed of about 75 miles per hour (121 kph). He had about 350 appearances with the Cuban national team.
Despaigne led the Cuban team to the gold medal at the 1989 FIVB World Cup in Japan. He also helped the Cuban team win the silver medal at the 1990 FIVB World Championship in Brazil, and was named the best player in the world in 1990 by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). He then helped the Cuban team win the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, followed by the silver medal at the 1991 FIVB World Cup in Japan.[4]
In 2020, Despaigne won a Fair Play Menarini International Award in the category of "Fair Play" for his sportsmanship.[5]
Despaigne lives in Italy and works as a volleyball coach.[6]
Despaigne married María Teresa Santamaría, who was a member of the Cuban women's national volleyball team in the 1980s.[7]