19-time American Record holder and two-time Paralympian Joe Wise has decided to retire from swimming today at 20 years old, after being unable to overcome his battle with shoulder pain.
Wise says that it was not an easy decision, but one he had to make for the sake of his health. An MRI earlier this year revealed a torn labrum and several cases of tendonitis in his right arm, and doctors told him that in addition to shutting it down for the rest of this season, that the “abuse of swimming” would always givve him problems.
“I have been dealing with injuries ever since London, and it always took me a while to get back to 100%,” Wise said. I felt that with the torn labrum it would take even longer and I would never truly get back to 100%…the abuse my body was taking from swimming got to the point where it was too much. My disease progressed so much that I had trouble recovering and making it through practices….overall it got to the point where swimming was too painful for me and it was destroying my body.”
Despite stepping away at such a young age, Wise doesn’t feel like he’s left anyone on the table. “I am very proud of my accomplishments, swimming in two Paralympic Games, swimming (NCAA) Division I for Loyola and representing the Santa Clara Swim Club,” Wise said. “When I first started and heard about the Paralympics, I made it a goal to go. I accomplished that goal; I wanted to go in a variety of events, I accomplished that goal; I always had my sights on a Paralympic medal and unfortunately that didn’t happen during my tenure. But I’m not disappointed in my career by any stretch.”
Wise’s best career Paralympic finishes were back-to-back 5th-place touches in the S10 400 meter freestyle. He swam in 5 events in London, after swimming just that single 400 free in Beijing. Wise also walks away with a bronze from the 2010 Paralympic World Championships in the open water 5km race, and a bronze in the 400 free from the 2009 Paralympic Short Course World Championships.
“There are so many people I have to thank,” Wise said in reflecting on his career. “First off my family, who sacrificed so much for me over my 11+ years of swimming. I don’t know where I would be without them. Secondly (Santa Clara Swim Club coach) Mark Taliaferro, Big Mark took me and my lofty goals on when I was just 14 years old. He was the man who coached me to my first paralympic games in 2008. When I was training for London, Mark voluntarily did private lessons with me, making sure my technique was as good as could be. Mark often called me when I was down and gave me pep talks when I needed them. As a coach Mark made me fall in love with the sport.”
Recounting others who had helped him in his journey, Wise also recalled “Head coach at Santa Clara John Bitter. I had the privilege of swimming for John my senior year of high school, and when I had to leave school following my medical withdrawal my freshmen year. John whipped me back into shape. John treated me just like every one else on the team. He did not look at me any different. He made sure I never felt sorry for myself. He would give me tough love which I needed many times. John pushed me everyday to be better and never settle.”
Wise also thanked the last coach he swam for, Brian Loeffler at Loyola. “Brian was one of the few coaches who recruited me coming out of high school. He knew of my disability, and still wanted me on his team. Brian coached for both the Paralympics and college swimming. Not many coaches would have done that for me. Brian also was always there for me, whether I wanted a quick talk or a long one Brian was always available to sit down and talk. I think we had a very close coach- swimmer relationship. Brian would always be the calming, happy guy I needed.”
“Finally my teammates I would not have achieved the success I had without them. Whether it was my Santa Clara or Loyola teammates, they always pushed me to be better. They made practices fun even if they were hard. They kept me going through the tough times.”
Wise won’t completely leave the sport. While his primary focus now will be completing his degree (he’s a junior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in marketing), he says that he plans to stay involved with the school’s team, and will endeavor to remain in his role as an official ambassador for Paralympic Swimming. “I have seen the sport grow so much,” Wise says of that role, “and I know there is still room to grow. My goal is to help that continue, and I will do whatever I can to help it grow.”
