# Joël Despaigne Charles

**Date of birth:** July 2, 1966

**Categories:** volleyball, Sports

Joël Despaigne Charles, nicknamed El Diablo (The Devil), is a retired Cuban volleyball player born on July 2, 1966, in Santiago de Cuba. Regarded as one of the finest outside hitters of his generation, he captained Cuba's men's national volleyball team and made approximately 350 international appearances. His extraordinary jumping ability — estimated at around 40 inches (102 cm) vertical — and spike speed of approximately 75 mph (121 kph) made him one of the most feared attackers in volleyball history.

In 1990, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) named him the World's Best Player. He led Cuba to the gold medal at the 1989 FIVB World Cup in Japan and the silver medal at the 1990 FIVB World Championship in Brazil. He also helped Cuba win gold at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana and was a key contributor to Cuba's strong performances in the World League from 1991 to 1997.

He represented Cuba in two Olympic Games — Barcelona 1992, where Cuba finished fourth, and Atlanta 1996, where the team placed sixth — before concluding his international career after his second Olympic appearance. He retired from professional play in 2002 while competing in Italy, where he currently lives and works as a volleyball coach.

In 2020, Despaigne received the International Fair Play Menarini Award in recognition of his sportsmanship. In 2026, he was selected for induction into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) in the men's indoor player category, becoming the first member of Cuba's men's national volleyball team to receive this honor.