Career
He competed for the United States at both the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing and the 2012 Games held in London. Wise has been swimming for 10 years total, 7 years in Paralympic swimming. In 2002, at the age of 9, Joe Wise was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy - a severe muscular disorder affecting his legs, hips, core muscles and lungs.
At the early age of 9, doctors told him and his family he would not live to see the age of 15.
In 8th grade, Joe was using a wheel chair, and having an extremely hard time walking. After doing a lot of leg exercises to strengthen his muscles, he was once again able to walk on his own.
Joe now uses a life support volume ventilator every day which helps him breath because his lungs are so weak. On December 3, 2013, Wise announced that he retired from swimming due to health issues.
2012: Named to the 2012 United States. Paralympic Team for London, England August 29 through September 9
2011: Pan Pac Para-Team Member
2008: United States. Paralympic Team member, Swimming - Paralympic Games, Beijing China
2008: American record, 400m IM, 800m freestyle and 1,500m freestyle - CanAm Championships, Victoria, British Columbia
2007: Two fourth-place finishes, 100m back, 400m free - Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2006: Gold medal, 400m free - United States. Paralympics Swimming National Championships, San Antonio, Texas
Ambassador for United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
Pacific Swimming LSC Athlete Representative.