Name: Joe Berenyi
Sport: Cycling
Discipline(s): Road Cycling, Track Cycling
Event(s): Time Trial, Road Race, Pursuit, Team Sprint
Classification: MC3
Height: 5-9
DOB: 11/12/1968
Birthplace: Aurora, Ill.
Hometown: Aurora, Ill.
High School: Aurora Central Catholic (Aurora, Ill.) ‘87
College: Waubonsee Community College ‘89, Business Administration
Paralympic Experience
  • Three-time Paralympian (2012, 2016, 2020); Four-time Paralympic Medalist (1 gold, 2 silvers, 1 bronze)
  • Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 6th (track team sprint), 7th (track individual pursuit), 11th (track time trial), 14th (road time trial), DNF (road race)
  • Paralympic Games Rio 2016, silver (track pursuit), 4th (track team sprint), 5th (track time trial), 6th (road time trial), 10th (road race)
  • Paralympic Games London 2012, gold (track individual pursuit), silver (track time trial), bronze (track team sprint)
World Championship Experience
  • Most recent: 2020 – Track – bronze (team sprint), 4th (scratch, time trial, omnium), 6th (individual pursuit); 2019 – Road – 11th (time trial), 14th (road race)
  • Years of participation: Road – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019; Track – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
  • Medals: 16 (9 golds, 4 silvers, 3 bronzes)
  • Gold – 2019 (track time trial); 2018 (track time trial); 2017 (time trial, team sprint, scratch race); 2016 (time trial, pursuit); 2015 (time trial, pursuit)
  • Silver – 2019 (scratch); 2017 (pursuit); 2015 (scratch); 2014 (pursuit)
  • Bronze – 2020 (team sprint); 2019 (team sprint); 2018 (pursuit)
Personal: Fell in love with cycling in the early 90’s and found success in a handful of amateur races...He was a member of the Illinois-based ABC Cycle Club, and was an able-bodied cyclist before a construction accident in 1994 cost him his right arm and severely injured a kneecap...Only had three years of experience riding at the national level when he went on to win three medals at the London Games...Son of Joe and Dolores Berenyi…Has one brother, Dan, and one sister, Lori...Married Jill Berenyi on Oct. 7,1995...Has three daughters, Sydney, Gwen and Tatum...Hobbies include reading and woodwork…Was named the USOPC’s Men’s Paralympic Athlete of the Year in 2015...Was nominated for an ESPY in 2015 in the Best Male Athlete with a Disability category.