Fergusson is a member of Canada’s national sitting volleyball team and will be taking part in the Paris Paralympic Games, from August 28 to September 8.
It is her second trip to the Paralympics – the team finished fourth in Tokyo in 2020.
"I am so excited to compete for Canada at the Paralympic Games,” she says. “Representing Canada is always an honour. We have an incredibly strong team, and we are thrilled to show what we can do on the world stage. “
Growing up in Carleton Place, Fergusson played all types of sports: basketball, soccer, badminton, track. Then in high school her volleyball coach told her about sitting volleyball. Fergusson, who was born with no left hand, had never heard of the sport. “I YouTubed it and decided it was the coolest thing ever,” she says.
Apart from the players being seated, the other major differences with standing volleyball are a smaller court, lower net and players must keep contact with floor at all times except when making a defensive play in the back or front zones. The net height, lower than that of able-bodied or standing volleyball, is set at a height of 1.15 metres for men, and 1.05 metres for women.
“I enjoy sitting volleyball because it is such a fast and dynamic sport. Before learning about sitting volleyball, I played volleyball in high school and have always enjoyed the strategy and teamwork. Sitting volleyball is even faster with the lower net and sliding around the floor. There is always so much more you can learn and improve on with technical skills, team strategies, and game planning.
“I enjoy being a part of a team of incredible athletes and women who inspire me in their hard work and dedication.”
Prior to law school she attended Queen’s University for a Bachelor of Engineering and Applied Science and a Graduate Diploma in Business.
“It's definitely been a challenge with time management due to the amount of traveling in the last two years. It's also been incredibly rewarding to do two things I really love.
“There are also a lot of similarities in law school and high-performance sport ... the importance of setting goals, working with others, and continuously striving for improvement. In both I get to use my strategic thinking, teamwork, and analytical skills.”
Annie is currently a summer student at Aitken Klee in intellectual property law and is hoping to explore sport law this school year.
Good luck Annie! Go Canada go!