U.S. Olympic Athletes

Heather Erickson

Height: 5-10
Weight: 185 pounds
Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C.
Current Residence: Fayetteville, N.C.
High School: Jack Britt High School

PERSONAL: Born Heather Nicole Erickson on May 9, 1993 in Eureka, Calif. ... Parents are Kevin and Brenda Erickson... Heather has a brother named Kyle and a sister named Stephanie... Heather was born with a condition that prevented a bone in her lower right leg from developing fully. After 15 failed surgeries, she and her family opted to have her right foot amputated just above the ankle in 2002. A month later, when the swelling from her final surgery had subsided, Heather received her first prosthetic leg... Heather attends Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville and is on track to graduate in 2011... She has played volleyball at Jack Britt for one year... At 15, Heather is the youngest player on the U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team... Heather likes to listen to Reliant K and 3 Doors Down... Her favorite movies are Game Plan, Gridiron Gang and August Rush.... Her favorite TV shows are House and WWE Raw... Heather's role model is her sister Stephanie, "she helps me with everything, including volleyball skills and life issues." ... Heather says about herself, "I pretty much live and breathe volleyball. I am always playing or thinking about volleyball."

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: 2008 - Paralympic Games in Beijing (silver medal)... World Organization Volleyball for Disabled (WOVD) Intercontinental Cup in Ismailia, Egypt (bronze medal)... 2007 - Sitting Volleyball Invitational in Shanghai China (silver medal). Heather has also played in several exhibition matches, both international and domestic, with the U.S. team.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 - The youngest player on the U.S. team, Heather finished the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing with a silver medal... She was second on the team in scoring, finishing with 43 points in the tournament... Was second on the team in kills with 24 while leading the squad in aces with 11. Also added eight blocks... Started all five matches and played in all 17 sets for the U.S... Finished with double-digit points in three of the team's matches in Beijing.