Paige McDonald, a resident of Roseisle, competed with Team Canada's Deaf Women's Volleyball Team in Montepellier, France last month. It was the 80th Celebration of the Deaf Sports International Competition.

McDonald was the only Manitoban on the team with teammates from across Canada, including B.C. and Nova Scotia.

The team went undefeated, playing four, best of two games before claiming victory in the gold medal game. McDonald said the team did not know what the score was until the end of the game when they saw the excited faces of their coaches.

She explained how the competition rules did not allow for hearing aids or cochlear implants, noting she has 20 percent of her hearing and is used to being on a hearing team.

McDonald notes the experience showed her she's not the only deaf or hard of hearing person playing sports.

"It's really hard being the only person, who is deaf and hard of hearing, playing sports here [Manitoba]," McDonald explains, adding she feels more comfortable playing with others who are hard of hearing.