This young volleyball star is one step closer to taking her talents global
Falon McLoughlan, 14, of Mount Pearl invited to train with Canadian Deaf Sports Association
A young Newfoundland volleyball star is one step closer to taking her talents global — and is using the opportunity to show other kids their disabilities aren't setbacks.
Fourteen-year-old Falon McLoughlan of Mount Pearl has been chosen by the Canadian Deaf Sports Association to train with their women's deaf volleyball team.
Her first stop is Manitoba, where she'll start training with other deaf volleyball players in January.
She hopes the opportunity will secure her a spot on the Canadian women's team, where she'd get the chance to represent Canada at the 2025 Deaflympics in Japan.
"I think it's a great opportunity because I get to meet new players that are just like me, and who love volleyball and are deaf like me," said McLoughlan, standing jersey-clad in the St. Peter's Junior High gym in Mount Pearl.
Setting an example
McLoughlan has been deaf since she was born.
She was given cochlear implants when she was just 18 months old. Without them, she is completely deaf.
McLoughlan feels at home spiking and setting balls with her school team, the Pythons, and she also trains recreationally, with the Gale Force Volleyball club.
When she's not on the court, she says, she loves playing the piano and doing arts and crafts, a talent she shares with others through her own small jewlery business.
She says deafness isn't a setback when it comes to succeeding in sports or her many other hobbies, a message she wants to pass on to other kids.
"I feel like that's great, because I'm showing other kids that they still have an opportunity of success or whatever they believe they want to do," said McLoughlan.
"I want to set an example that, no matter if you wear glasses, or you have a hearing ability, other stuff, that doesn't stop you from doing anything you want to do, because later on you can still be successful if you just don't give up."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
