Lara Ferguson

From 1992 to 2006 Lara Ferguson was the outstanding Scottish female swimmer with a physical impairment in the open class events. An ex pupil of Leslie Primary and Glenwood High School, Lara learned to swim at the Fife Sports Institute and in 1992 joined Glenrothes Swimming Club and in 1999 moved to Incas.

At school she also became an accomplished table tennis player and won Scottish singles and doubles titles partnered by her Leslie teammate Paul Noble. Lara’s first major international was the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and she followed that up with selection for Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. In Sydney Lara won bronze in the S9 100 metres breaststroke and silver in the 4×100 metres medley relay.

Lara also won many medals at IPC European and World Championships. Lara was an outstandingly successful junior swimmer who progressed through to the senior ranks and became a great Paralympian in the toughest of the IPC Swimming classes. Lara is now involved in swim teaching and coaching.