Impairment Information |
Type of Impairment |
Limb deficiency |
Origin of Impairment |
Acquired |
Classification |
T64, F64 |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Partner Olivia Burns |
Residence |
Stanmore Bay, NZL |
Occupation |
Athlete, Driver |
Languages |
English |
Higher education |
Horticulture - Waikato Institute of Technology: Hamilton, NZL |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up the sport at age 23 in 2017, at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health in Auckland, New Zealand. |
Why this sport? |
His talent was noticed by Para athletics coach Hamish Meacheam while Joynt was taking part in the 2017 Auckland Marathon in New Zealand. "After the injury I probably realised how much I'd previously taken for granted. I knew I had a chance of maybe one day competing at the Paralympics, so I probably committed to the sport far more than I had before. I loved being active before so didn't want a little accident to stop me. I took it to such a high level to prove to people that I could do it." |
Club / Team |
North Harbour Bays Athletics: Auckland, NZL |
Name of coach |
Hamish Meacheam [personal], NZL, from 2017 |
Training Regime |
He has up to four track sessions each week, as well as two gym days and a recovery session. |
Senior International Debut |
Year |
2019 |
Competing for |
New Zealand |
Tournament |
World Championships |
Location |
Dubai, UAE |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Mitch (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019; Facebook profile, 01 Mar 2020; Instagram profile, 21 May 2020) |
Hobbies |
Snowboarding. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Representing New Zealand. "Results don't matter as much to me as just having the honour of wearing the silver fern." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Most influential person in career |
Coach Hamish Meacheam. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Hero / Idol |
New Zealand rugby union player Christian Cullen. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Injuries |
In 2016 he broke his left ankle. He underwent surgery where five screws and a plate were inserted. Ongoing problems with the injury require him to undergo regular rehabilitation. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
"My granddad passed away about a month before my first race so he never got to see me compete. I now print his initials 'DSE' on all my racing singlets from club to national." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Every race is a time trial. I'm only racing myself. If I run a personal best and come last I am happier than if I run slow but win the race." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) |
Other sports |
He has won a junior world title in able-bodied archery. He has also competed in Para snowboard at international level. (athletics.org.nz, 16 Aug 2019; wintergamesnz.kiwi, 02 Sep 2017) |
Ambitions |
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and in Para snowboard the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (Instagram profile, 10 Oct 2019; AUT Millennium FLAME, 18 Sep 2019; news.autmillennium.org.nz, 08 Nov 2019; Facebook page, 30 Apr 2020) |
Impairment |
In 2014 he lost his right leg after his foot became caught in a wood chipper while he was working as a tree surgeon. "It was the end of the day, it was the last stub and I sort of casually kicked it in. We were on a gravel road so my other foot just slipped on the gravel and it just dragged me in." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019; tvnz.co.nz, 22 Nov 2014) |
