Even in self-described “semi- retirement”, Paul is the face of Canadian volleyball. Indeed it wasn’t that long ago that folks in the know were calling the 36 year-old Londoner the best player in the world. Along with starring for his country for 16 years, Duerden, a power hitter, has enjoyed a brilliant professional career in Europe, including seven years in France as well as stops in Germany, Belgium, Italy and most recently,Turkey.
While the former Oakridge Secondary School star’s resume doesn’t contain a berth in the Olympics – he was outstanding in Canada’s four failed Olympic qualifying shots – it does include competing four world championships and three World Cups and a bronze medal in the 1999 Pan Am Games. Paul still remains the only player in Canadian history to go directly from high school to the national program at the age of 18. Paul and his wife Kari Schneider, recently opened Empower Conditioning on Piccadilly Street to work with high performance-minded athletes, teams and private clients.