Fisher Heads to Maccabi Games
Last summer, four hours before her 26th birthday, Stephanie Fisher got a phone call at home that had her trembling before she picked up the receiver.
The call was from the Canadian national volleyball team that was assembling a squad to compete in the 2009 Maccabi Games in Israel – a team Fisher had tried out for earlier in the year.
“I saw the long distance number from Toronto and I didn’t want the call to ruin my birthday … I wanted it to be good news,” Fisher said. “I got the call saying I was on the team. I was calm on the phone. When I got off it, I freaked out and started jumping up and down. It was a surreal feeling.”
The Maccabi Games are referred to as the Jewish Olympics. The event is held every four years in Israel and attracts top Jewish athletes from around the world. The event features more than 7,000 athletes from more than 50 countries. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an international sports federation of Olympic standard.
Fisher was one of 12 women to earn a spot on the Canadian team. It’s one reason she is beaming with pride and a feeling a profound sense of accomplishment. She has a few more that gives her goose bumps.
“I’m the only person on the team and the entire Canadian delegation from northern Ontario,” the Lively high school graduate said. “It’s kind of crazy. This is a big honour. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It could be the biggest thing I ever do.”
The ball got rolling on Fisher’s opportunity by chance. Last year, she was on the OVA’s web-site signing up for single A beach volleyball. While visiting the site, Fisher found a link for a try-out for the Canadian team for the Maccabi Games.
Being of the Jewish faith, Fisher sent in her application and was accepted for the try-out.
“There’s a thousand different things this means to me,” Fisher said. “Representing my country is a dream of mine. An achievement like this confirms what I’ve been working on for a long time.”…
Get the full story from Scott Haddow, Sudbury Star and see the video interview
