LAU WINS TWO MEDALS FOR VOLLEYBALL EXCELLENCE

Deaf athlete Annie Lau had this smile of success.

The 24-year old Business Administration student, soon to start her third year at George Brown College, was beaming the other day - while clutching her two new friends: a silver medal and a bronze medal.

Lau, who had played sparingly on the Huskies women's volleyball team the past two years, had an opportunity to compete as a setter for Ontario at the Canadian Deaf championships in Edmonton.

Hopefully, she thought, things would go well and maybe help Ontario end up with a medal.

Better yet, after Lau and her teammates claimed a bronze medal in the Alberta city, organizers for Canada's team competing at the Pan Am Games for the Deaf in Brazil figured she would be their libero and invited her to join the National group.

She grabbed the opportunity - even if it meant about $1,000 out of her pocket to cover expenses to South America.

And Lau, again with her teammates, accomplished more than what some thought was possible.

Canada, which finished the six-country round-robin pool with a 2-3 record, advanced to the Final Four and upset the favored team. The Canucks swept Argentina 3-0 in a semifinal (25-23, 25-13, 25-20), and captured a silver losing to Mexico in the championship (25-16, 25-22, 25-14).

Having competed a year ago at the Friendship Games in Washington, this international experience topped it all.

"I had to participate at the Canadian finals to be considered for the other team," she said with the help of a translator. "Then, when I was chosen – it was really special for me even though I was stressed out having taken lots of courses at George Brown."

"I was fortunate, and thankful, to be able to play at that level and experience something I will remember for the rest of my life."

Canada still has a chance to compete at the Deaf Olympics in Hungary next year and Lau said she wouldn't hesitate if asked to be on the team.

Source: George Brown College