Fergusson was a member of Canada’s national sitting volleyball team which won a bronze medal in the Paris Paralympic Games.
The medal is Canada’s first-ever Paralympic podium finish in sitting volleyball and the country’s first Paralympic team sports medal since the men’s wheelchair basketball team won gold at the 2012 London Games.
It was her second trip to the Paralympics – the team finished fourth in Tokyo in 2020.
“It is amazing to see the Paralympic movement growing both in Canada and internationally,” she says.
“The viewership and outreach from back home is so heartwarming. It is incredibly exciting to me that kids growing up with disabilities, like me growing up with a limb difference, will see these incredible high-performance sports on their TVs and in their communities. “
One extra special thing about this year’s games, she says, was to have in-person fans back.
“The atmosphere in the stadiums was incredible. I was also grateful for my parents, aunts, and friends to be in the crowd supporting us.
“It was an incredible atmosphere in the Village, both within the Canada Building and with all the other countries who are back to mingling after the increased restrictions for the Tokyo Games.”
A day after defeating rival Brazil for the bronze, she and a teammate took their medals to the Eiffel Tower.
“Part of the Eiffel Tower is included in each of the medals from the Paris 2024 Games and I am so happy to have one of my own. People were very excited to see the medals and it was very fun to share that with others. “
Fergusson hopes to get a chance to bring the medal to Fauteux soon
