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Joyce defies odds in chasing goals
By Kate Kyriacou - Leader newspaper
5 April 2004
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Andy Joyce shows his style.
Picture: Julie Best |
Brunswick’s Andy Joyce has never let his hearing impairment get in the way of his love for sports – even if he can’t hear the start gun or the referee’s whistle.
But despite the difficulties, the swimmer and water polo player’s talents have shone through, winning him a place in the Australian team for the 20th Deaflympic games.
“Many years ago, in swimming competitions, I would find it difficult to hear when the gun went off at the start,” he said.
“I was always behind the others and sometimes I would watch the other swimmers get ready to dive and go in after them.
“To my embarrassment, a teacher would help by dropping his handkerchief down beside the start flag.
“It was really helpful, but I was very embarrassed when one day he dropped his handkerchief and it landed in the water.”
Water polo came with its own challenges, with Joyce using his sight to keep track of the game.
“It’s pretty difficult to follow the referees and their whistles, but I watch everywhere, including the ball, referees and players, he said.
Growing up in the Gold Coast, swimming was a part of every day life for Joyce and his family. But a move to Melbourne in 1998 to further his studies at RMIT saw Joyce join up with the university’s water polo team.
“I learnt and played more water polo at a local club in Essendon with grades B and C placings in the Victorian competition,” he said.
“I’ve played on and off since then until last year when I went to the water polo trials at the Australian Deaf Games in Sydney.”
Joyce made the Australian squad and will be competing in the Australian Country Championships in Noosa next month.
The Deaflympic Games will bring 35,000 competitors, officials and supporters to Melbourne and Ballarat in January next year.
About 3500 athletes will travel from 83 countries to take part in sports ranging from cycling and orienteering to basketball and handball.
Starting guns are replaced with a green light.
Joyce is this weeks Moreland Leader Sports Star nominee. If you know someone who has competed at state level or above in their sport you can nominate them as a Sports Star by emailing
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