Sitting Volleyball Women’s: First Time for Anne Fergusson

During the 2015 Parapan Am Games held recently in Toronto, I got to interview another first-time para-athlete, Anne Fergusson. She is a 19-year-old sitting volleyball competitor originally from Smiths Falls, Ontario. Born without a left hand, she has been passionate about sports and has competed in volleyball since high school. She was involved in other sports, however sitting volleyball is her specialty.

Toronto, Ontario, August 9, 2015. Canada vs USA sitting Volleyball 2015 Parapan Am Games . Photo Scott Grant/Canadian Paralympic Committee

When I asked her what it felt like to be making her national debut at Parapan, she said:

“Absolutely amazing… It’s a great group of girls and it’s been an incredible experience.”

She also said it was exciting to make her national team debut on home soil. Her goal is to make the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, while juggling her engineering studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Toronto, Ontario, August 14, 2015. Canadian women compete in the Sitting volleyball during the 2015 Parapan Am Games . Photo Scott Grant/Canadian Paralympic Committee

Fergusson and her team won bronze when they defeated Cuba 3-0. Before the bronze medal game was played, I asked her to pick a personal favourite Parapan Am moment.

“I think my favourite moments have definitely been coming out as a team. This group of girls have definitely worked hard together… it has been really special.”

You can find an organization near you to try out sitting volleyball:

• Ontario Volleyball Association
• Pacific Volleyball Society
• Volleyball Canada

Judo: First time experience for Priscilla Gagne

Instead of focusing all of our attention on the veteran para-athletes, the Enables Me team has taken an interest in the newcomers. Priscilla Gagne is new to the Parapan Am Games. She won silver in Judo in the women’s under-52-kilogram event this week after defeating three of her four opponents at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario.

WHITBY, ON, AUGUST 11, 2015. Judo at the Abilities Centre – Canadians Priscilla Gagne (-52KG/B1) wins a silver medal.
Photo: Dan Galbraith/Canadian Paralympic Committee

“This is a huge accomplishment for me,” she said. “This is definitely a highlight. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m just so grateful it was right here in Canada, and in Toronto of all places close to Sarnia where family could come. It means the world to me.”

The 29-year-old Gagne. who is visually impaired, and a former wrestler, was born in Quebec and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. She credits her move to Ottawa as having helped her perform better as a para-athlete.

“I was moving for work because Ottawa is a blind-friendly city. My dad was visiting me from Sarnia and he said ‘let’s just go look at the dojo,’ and knowing my dad, before I left, he was signing papers to pay for my membership.”

WHITBY, ON, AUGUST 11, 2015. Judo at the Abilities Centre – Canadians Priscilla Gagne (-52KG/B1) wins a silver medal.
Photo: Dan Galbraith/Canadian Paralympic Committee

Gagne says she hopes to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, as long as she stays in the top six. I asked her if she enjoyed her first Parapan Am experience overall.

“All the training really paid off,” she said. “I’m disappointed I lost the one to Brazil but all in all, I’m really happy.”

Want to give judo a try? Check out these clubs:

• Judo Canada
• Richmond Hill Budakon

In memory

Sitting Volleyball Men’s: Austin Hinchey – Captain and Veteran

Austin Hinchey, the Edmonton-based captain of his sitting volleyball team, overcame a major obstacle. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones) concentrated in his left leg, he decided to get it amputated. He made this life-altering decision at age 11. Now, at age 23, he represents Canada in para competitions throughout the world. After developing a passion for volleyball in high school, he began playing competitively. He has been the captain for Team Canada's Sitting Volleyball team since 2007.

  

In 2011, he and his sitting volleyball team won the bronze medal at the Guadalajara Parapan Am Games. So what does he think about playing on home soil in the 2015 Parapan Am Games?

"It's amazing to be playing in Canada. We (our current team) have only played one other event in Montreal every year, but we've never played something this big in Canada, and we have never had these kinds of fans in Canada. It's really exciting for us and we're really enjoy playing in front of the home crowd."

Hinchey is so proud of his current roster that going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio is "the goal." With an unbreakable attitude like that, his goal to go to Rio looks promising, especially with growing interest for sitting volleyball. Before I wrapped my interview with Hinchey, I asked him if he had any advice for young people with disabilities who long to get into sports:

"I think the biggest thing is just to try and find a sport that you love, and to enjoy playing it. We play ultimately to have fun and to enjoy the sport (of volleyball), and especially if you're an athlete that qualifies to play a Paralympic sport, just try to get involved. Most sports are inclusive and (organizers) are always looking for new people."

You can find an organization near you to try out sitting volleyball:

• Ontario Volleyball Association
• Pacific Volleyball Society
• Volleyball Canada