From Dubai to Boise
How a Gymnast Built a Career Across Continents
Isabella Williams
For Boise State gymnast Anna Ferguson, the road to collegiate gymnastics has stretched far beyond the usual club gyms and weekend meets.
Long before her near-perfect 9.950 beam debut, she was growing up in Dubai, carrying the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, moving across the world at 13 and finding her rhythm everywhere from Las Vegas to a tiny hole-in-the-wall gym in Costa Rica.
Her story winds through countries, cultures and moments that built her into the athlete Boise State sees today.
A Life Shaped by Gymnastics
Ferguson lived in Dubai for nearly 10 years, a place she says molded her worldview more than anything else.
“It was such a unique place to grow up,” she said. “Everybody was from all over the world. There wasn’t really a ‘normal’ because everyone had such different backgrounds.”
Gymnastics wasn’t widely accessible in Dubai. Facilities were limited, competitions were rare and equipment sometimes had to be packed up and transported each day.
Still, for Ferguson, gymnastics was a part of her everyday life. She and her sisters practiced constantly, with their dad even coaching them around the house.
Her younger sister, Maria Ferguson, followed in her footsteps and now competes on the gymnastics team at Southern Utah, and the two have always shared a close bond over the sport.
From practicing routines together at home to cheering each other on in competitions, gymnastics has always been a homegrown pursuit, creating memories that go far beyond scores and awards.
A Global Move at 13
Anna’s life shifted dramatically in 2017 when she and her younger sister moved from Dubai to Las Vegas to pursue gymnastics. They lived with a host family for months before their parents could relocate.
“We were only 12 and 13,” she said. “Moving across the world together and living in a stranger’s home was a lot. My sister being there made everything easier.”
Her schedule changed completely. Traditional school turned into online classes and long days in the gym.
“Gymnastics went from being a big part of my life to taking up nearly all of it,” she said.
Even years later, those early adjustments still shape how she approaches her training. Boise State head coach Tina Bird remembers meeting Anna for the first time after those challenging seasons.
“She’d been injured a couple of seasons before she got here,” Bird said. “But she was a really hard worker and really coachable. That’s why I asked her if she wanted to come to Boise State.”
A Costa Rica Reset
Following her freshman year, Ferguson studied abroad in Costa Rica, living with a host family and taking a rare pause from gymnastics, enjoying the slower pace of life.
It really taught me to value the simple things. Good food, daily routines, being around people you love. It’s easy to take that stuff for granted, but those moments are so meaningful.Anna Ferguson
Although Costa Rica had no gymnastics facilities, she kept moving and training whenever she could.
Coaching the Next Generation
Back in Boise, Ferguson coaches at a local youth gym, working with kids between the ages of 9 and 15. She enjoys seeing the sport through their eyes, remembering what it was like to be a young gymnast herself.
“It brings me back to when I was that age,” she said. “Club gymnastics is tough, so I try to coach in a way that would help kids love the sport as much as I do.”
Her dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. Her coach often remarks on the energy Ferguson brings to practice.
“She really lights up a room when she walks in,” Bird said.
No matter what gets thrown at her, she spins it in a positive way. Her enthusiasm is contagious.Tina Bird
Bird sees that same spark in how Ferguson approaches her own training, always pushing herself while inspiring those around her.
Coaching has also given Ferguson a fresh perspective on her own path. Seeing younger athletes push through challenges has been a reminder that growth isn’t instant, but built over time.
“When I watch the girls struggle with things they’re learning, it reminds me that progress takes time,” she said. “It makes me appreciate my own journey more.”
In guiding others, she’s learned patience, empathy and the value of celebrating small victories — lessons that have shaped her as both a coach and an athlete.
The Beam Routine That Changed Everything
Ferguson didn’t expect to compete early in her collegiate career. She lacked meets under her belt and she assumed she’d spend most of her freshman year working quietly in the gym. Everything changed during a midseason lineup shuffle.
“Suddenly I was told I was in the beam lineup,” she said. “I was nervous, but I didn’t really have any expectations. I just wanted to do my best.”
Her coach remembers the moment clearly.
“She just got up there and nailed it,” Bird said. “It was one of those moments where it felt like the whole team won together.”
Her teammates exploded with excitement. Then the scores came in.
A perfect 10 from one judge.
A 9.950 overall.
One of the best beam debuts in school history.
“I never thought I’d get scores like that,” Ferguson said. “My body kind of shut down. There were tears everywhere.”
The moment wasn’t just about the score. It was symbolic of everything she had built.
Anna is a great example of someone who doesn’t let obstacles get in her way. She came here as a walk-on and fought for every opportunity. I think if everybody worked like her, it’d be a whole different story.Tina Bird
Carrying Trinidad With her
Both of Ferguson’s parents were born in Trinidad and Tobago, and she holds dual citizenship. Even though she never lived there full time, the island is deeply embedded in her identity.
Nearly every year, she visited her extended family, trained at a local club and reconnected with the culture she grew up hearing about.
Last summer, she even got to fulfill a dream she had carried since childhood: representing Trinidad and Tobago at the Pan American Championships.
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I’ve always dreamed of being a college gymnast and of representing Trinidad in an international event. To do both was surreal.”
Bird also traveled with her and saw firsthand how meaningful the experience was.
“It was so rewarding,” Bird said. “Going through all those things with her and then traveling to Colombia to help her compete. She’s a really neat kid to get to know.”
A Life in Motion
From Dubai to Trinidad, Las Vegas to Boise, Costa Rica to Colombia, Ferguson’s story hasn’t followed a traditional line.
“I always try to appreciate every part of my life,” she said. “The cultures, the people, the experiences. They’re all part of who I am.”
For now, Ferguson is still writing the next chapter of her journey, and Boise is where she’ll keep building, one experience at a time.