Joel Makin

Makin was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. He played squash at Aberdare Junior Squash Club under coaches Bob Gould, Clive Roberts and Dave Cope, and represented Wales at Under-13s level in 2007. He left Aberdare at 18 and, forgoing university, trained at West Warwickshire Club under the guidance of Rob Owen until parting ways to become independent.

He won the Kent Open in 2017, beating Joshua Masters in straight sets, and the Tring Open in 2018. He reached the semifinals of the men's singles squash competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, losing out to Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan in the bronze medal match. Makin qualified for the 2018 British Open Squash Championships where he lost in the first round to Mohamed Abouelghar. He beat the world number one, Mohamed El Shorbagy, to reach the quarterfinals of the Channel VAS Championships in October 2018. In February 2022, he was ranked number 8 in the World and 1 in Wales.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Makin was selected to represent Wales, and won a silver medal in the Men's Singles.

In 2024, Makin won his second British National Squash Championships, the first being achieved in 2021. In October 2024, Makin won his 7th and 8th PSA titles after securing victory in the Silicon Valley Open and Pittsburgh Open during the 2024–25 PSA Squash Tour.

In June 2025, he reached the semi final of the 2025 Men's British Open Squash Championship for the second consecutive year, losing to Mostafa Asal but shortly afterwards won the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto to record his greatest feat to date.

Also in 2025, Makin won his third British National Squash Championships title, defeating Nick Wall in the final. Makin won his 10th PSA title in November 2025.