Student-Athlete Spotlight: Attleboro swimmer Zuri Ferguson set to compete in Paris Olympics

Zuri Ferguson will be entering her senior year at Attleboro High School in the fall. But before she returns to the pool for the Bombardiers, Ferguson has an even bigger opportunity on her calendar:

Competing in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

The 17-year-old Ferguson will represent Trinidad and Tobago and swim the 100-meter backstroke in Paris.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Ferguson said in an Attleboro Sun-Chronicle story. “It’s such a crazy thing to grasp and has been a dream of mine for so long. To have it come true is actually crazy.”

Both of Ferguson's parents - father Andre, and mother Carina - are from Trinidad and Tobago. She was nominated by World Aquatics to compete for the Caribbean nation, and earned her spot during the recent Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation Championship in Mexico.

Ferguson set a meet record in the 50-meter backstroke for the 15-17 age group (29.20 seconds), and won the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events.

A two-time MIAA Fall Swimming state champion in the 100-yard backstroke, Ferguson will swim in the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries beginning July 29 in Paris. The semifinals are the same night, and the final for the event scheduled for July 30.