LAURIE WEIR
In three straight sets, Team Canada, including Anne Fergusson of Carleton Place, won the bronze medal in sitting volleyball on Sept. 7 in Paris during the 2024 Paralympics.
It’s the first medal the team has won in this sport, and the second time Fergusson had competed at the Paralympics – her first was in Tokyo where Team Canada placed fourth in the competition.
According to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Fergusson has been a key player on Canada’s Women’s National Sitting Volleyball team since 2013. Born without her right hand, Fergusson discovered sitting volleyball through a Canadian coach and quickly grew passionate about the sport. Since then, she has played a vital role in the team, contributing to numerous achievements and milestones.
Fergusson was instrumental in Canada’s bronze medal wins at the Parapan American Games in 2015 and 2019. She was also part of the historic Rio 2016 Paralympic Games team, marking the first time a Canadian sitting volleyball team competed at the Paralympics. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Fergusson and her team earned an impressive fourth-place finish. A standout moment in her career came at the 2022 World Championships, where the Canadian team captured a silver medal, further solidifying her impact on the sport.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Fergusson is an advocate for the War Amps Child Amputee Program. She graduated from Queen’s University in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and is currently studying law at the University of Ottawa, Common Law Section. Her professional experience includes work in oceanography and medical devices, highlighting her diverse talents and dedication both in and out of sports.
Fergusson attended Carleton Place High School where she played standing volleyball, and it was during her high school years when she learned about sitting volleyball.