Sade Ferguson is a Water Skier and a recipient of a Scholarship within the 2020 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, the first water skier since the Program commenced. Sade has been paired with surf lifesaver and Athlete Member, Kristy Munroe AM as her Mentor.
Sade was born in Roma, outback Queensland, in 2003, and began competitive water skiing at age six. She won her first national title as an eight-year-old and by the age of 12 was competing in her first international tournament in the disciplines of Slalom, Trick and Jump.
Sade’s medal haul is impressive. She won her first national title in 2014 at the Australian Junior Masters, and by 2019 she had set 7 Australian junior records across various disciplines. She also collected 5 Junior Moomba Titles and a Junior World Title in the Jump discipline, as well as taking out the title of Australian Open Women’s Jump, Trick and Overall Champion while still young enough to compete as a junior. Her skills and consistent training then earned her bronze medals in the overall at the junior world titles and she made the finals at the 2019 Open World Championships competing against adults while still a junior. 2019 provided even more success when she was crowned Junior USA Masters Jump Champion.
By the end of 2019, Sade was ranked no 1 in Australia and the world at junior level and number 2 at national senior level, and has been honoured with the Maranoa region Australia Day Junior Sports Award.
Sade on being selected as a 2020 Scholarship Holder: “To be recognised as a recipient of the SAHOF Scholarship Program is definitely an honour. I feel extremely privileged to be recognised as a junior athlete making positive steps in Australian sport. To have an Australian great mentoring me in this next year is definitely going to give me the best opportunity to grow and step it up a gear both personally and as an athlete. Mindset is the biggest part of the game and I’m excited to get started.”
Honours & Achievements
- 2018: U17 Junior Jump World Champion
- 2019: Junior USA Masters Jump Champion
- 2019: Australian Open Women’s Jump, Trick & Overall Champion
- 2019: Australian U17 Slalom Record Holder
- 2019: Junior Moomba Masters Slalom, Jump & Overall Champion
Kristy Munroe AM on being Sade’s Mentor: “I’m really excited to have this opportunity to mentor Sade Ferguson, through this wonderful program that matches athletes across different sports. We hear so often ‘I wish I knew then what I know now’ and the SAHOF Scholarship and Mentoring Program provides a platform to share our experiences with these incredible rising stars. The challenges of competing on a world stage as a teenager is something I’m very honoured to be able to help Sade with.”
“The selection of Sade for this prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship award has delighted all of Australian water skiing. We’re so glad to see our nomination of Sade being successful for such an award, as we couldn’t think of anyone else in any sport in Australia that is more deserving. Sade’s dedication and commitment over the past 3-4 years has seen her move from a young upcoming Australian Junior to a genuine future star of our sport on the world stage. We’re excited to see what comes next for Sade, especially with the support and influence her mentorship from Kristy Munroe will bring. Congratulations Sade, well deserved, and we are all super proud of you!” Grant Barnett President Water Ski & Wakeboard Australia & Stafford Scott Chairman Tournament Water Ski Australia on Sade’s selection.
