This past November, Laurie Achin arrived in Tokyo for the 2025 Deaflympics holding two distinct perspectives: that of a former athlete who once competed on the world stage, and that of a leader responsible for guiding the next generation of USA Deaf Beach Volleyball players.
Achin, a senior lecturer in the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education, also serves as the director of USA Deaf Beach Volleyball, where her responsibilities extend far beyond the court.
“As the director, I run the program and make sure everything is organized logistically, like scheduling meal and practice times,” she said. “My responsibilities also range from ensuring athletes receive proper treatment and training to stepping in as an assistant coach when matches overlap. It’s a lot, but it’s super fun.”
Before directing the program, she competed as a deaf Olympian herself, representing Team USA as an indoor volleyball player in Rome, Italy in 2001, where she earned a silver medal, and again in Melbourne, Australia in 2005, where her team took bronze.
In 2009, in Taipei, Taiwan, Achin transitioned to beach volleyball, finishing fifth out of 25 teams. “I also played volleyball in college for Eastern Kentucky University,” she said. “I was on a full-ride scholarship, but with me being deaf and feeling like the Deaf culture was kind of lacking there, I transferred to Gallaudet University based in Washington, D.C.”
Her experiences playing on hearing teams in her early years to Deaf teams at the highest international level informs how she approaches coaching today.
“For deaf and hard-of-hearing people, we’re much more reliant on our eyes and our peripheral vision,” she said, noting that communication is the key to success in Deaf and hard-of-hearing sports. For example, other factors like eye contact and body language replace physical indicators like shouts and whistles.
Participating as a director and coach at the Deaflympics in Tokyo gave Achin a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that keeps professional sport teams running.
“Before I was just on the court playing the game,” she said. “And now I get to step back and work on the logistics, and it’s really helped me become a better leader.”
At the games for beach volleyball, Team USA exceeded Achin’s expectations with the men’s team A reaching the quarterfinals in a field of 22 teams and the women’s team A finishing fourth, just shy of the bronze medal.
“They really did an amazing job,” she said. “Honestly, I am so extremely proud of them. Both the women’s and men’s teams gained valuable international experience, laying the groundwork for the future, which I feel positive about for 2029.”
Beyond the competition, Japan itself impressed Achin, who—along with her team—enjoyed exploring various cultural landmarks and popular shopping areas, as well as DisneySea in Tokyo.
As a longtime volleyball player and now director, Achin is passionate about educating the public about the Deaflympics, which often receives less visibility than the Olympics, Paralympics, and Special Olympics.
Funding remains a persistent challenge, she added, with athletes often fundraising or paying out of pocket for travel, lodging, and meals.
While recent donations and uniform support from USA Volleyball and the clothing brand Slunks have helped, Achin believes that broader recognition can help create opportunities for Deaf athletes, especially those playing at the international level.
Looking ahead to the 2029 Deaflympics in Athens, Greece, Achin remains hopeful about continuing her leadership in the sport, as well as maintaining her connection with UGA students as an American Sign Language coordinator and instructor in the College.
