Joe Soares

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Joe Soares is a former all-star wheelchair rugby player for the United States who later went on to coach the Canadian paralympic team after he was cut by the U.S in 1996. This episode figures prominently in the 2005 documentary film Murderball.

Soares was born into a poor family in Portugal, and moved to Providence, Rhode Island at the age of 11. Soares lost the use of his legs after contracting childhood polio. Several years passed before his family could afford a wheelchair, during which time he dragged himself around by his arms.

Soares began playing rugby in 1989 and, as of 2005, is the only player to have participated in 13 consecutive United States National Championships. He was also a finalist in singles and a champion in doubles at the 1996 U.S. Open for Wheelchair Tennis in the Quad "A" Division.

After being cut from the U.S. team in 1996 and losing a lawsuit in an attempt to gain a position, Soares led the Canadian wheelchair rugby team to victory against the until then-undefeated United States team in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Soares was fired by the Canadian wheelchair rugby team in 2005, and moved on to coach the British team.

Soares and his wife, Patricia, have two sons; Joseph and Robert. Through the time that he coached Team Canada, he resided in the United States.