My Story

Hi, my name is Julia Hamer. I am twenty-years old and an undergraduate student studying at the University of Toronto as a Neuroscience Specialist major. Along with my studying I am currently training full-time with the Canadian National Beach Volleyball team. I could never have dreamed to have be where I am today. I am so lucky, so grateful and so happy to represent my country in a sport that I truly love. My path of getting here was not exactly direct, as I was tempted by many other opportunities; however, my outlook on life is a lot like doing research. One may go into a study hoping to find some particular gene sequence or cell trafficking mechanism but end up finding something extraordinary that has nothing to do with the original thesis! I had a particular “thesis” or original plan for my life and boy did that change.

Here is my story.

Born dancing out of my mother’s womb at 100miles/hour, literally the quickest labor time imaginable… I twirled, leaped, spun around and ended up dancing on stage for over a decade. Dancing lead into acting and into singing and eventually to a full-blown triple threat; I became quite passionate for the arts. I planned on attending a performing arts high school, following in my parent’s footsteps, but a last minute summer decision I decided to attend Notre Dame, a school known for both their education and athletics. I was kicking soccer balls, dribbling basketballs, smashing birdies, serving tennis balls, swimming lengths and passing volleyballs throughout my four years there. I had played rep soccer for many years and found that was my greatest athletic talent. However there was one summer that changed everything and was my main reason for my decision to attend Notre Dame.

I was dared by my soccer team to attend a volleyball camp run by the Burlington Blaze Volleyball Club during our “week off” from training, a sport I had never cared for. Unfortunately no, this is not some sappy tale of how I was brilliantly good at it and took off with the sport right away. In fact, I was brutal. I think I passed more balls off my face, shoulder and the sole of my foot that week than anything else. Camp counselors found me juggling volleyballs with my feet rather than wanting to participate in drills. However, I am a Hamer, and was born with a rather cunning competitive edge. I HATE not being good at something, in fact, I can’t stand it. I was teased by my soccer team the rest of the summer, which only added fuel to the fire of continuing to practice on my own. Everyday I volleyed the ball that they had provided us with at the camp against my garage door over and over again. Practiced bumping to myself, serving against the fence in my backyard and with time I actually began to admire the sport. After not making my elementary school team in grade seven, I was gutty enough to try out for my school team once more. Not only did I make my school squad but also made a rep A volleyball team where my career officially began. It wasn’t long before I hung my cleats up and put my ballet shoes away. Of course I had to find a way to quench my passionate right-brained half. Still in love with dancing, contemplating going into fashion, obsessed with make-up and designing my own clothes; I was able to find a fix by modeling and acting part-time. I was even casted as the lead in my high school’s musicals and plays, however, nowhere near as talented as my father.

I realized I had found my true niche playing volleyball, particularly the day I first stepped onto the sand. Beach volleyball was a hybrid of the skills I had learned in indoor volleyball combined with the athleticism I had from playing several other sports, mostly my endurance from years of soccer training. I loved how there was only two players on the court, more control of my surroundings and absolute pure bliss. I was surprisingly successful right from the start playing in the Ontario Beach Tour winning tournaments nearly every weekend. As I mentioned early, my path was not quite direct... 

After high school and club volleyball finished with me playing for Durham Attack, I attended the University of Connecticut on a full-ride scholarship to study Exercise Science and play on the Varsity Women’s Volleyball team as an UConn Huskie. It was a great experience to play in one of the largest conferences in the USA travelling every weekend to a different state. The athletic community was empowering and never have I experienced such school pride. However, I missed playing beach volleyball a great deal and wanted the opportunity take more challenging classes without the burden taking them only summer school. It made sense for me to return home to Canada, play the sport I truly love, be in a program that’s both challenging but highly fitting to my long-term goals.

Upon returning home, I chose to attend the University of Toronto, made the National Beach Volleyball Team and represented Canada at the U21 FIVB Junior World Championships as well as the FISU World University Championships that same summer. 

You may have noticed that I keep an extremely busy schedule. I have many diverse goals I want to accomplish in life. The most important thing to me is my education, continuing to succeed in school and becoming a medical doctor. I have been blessed with the talent and mindset to also succeed in beach volleyball, and I will continue to fulfill my athletic goals prior to attending medical school. I am driven, passionate and hard working. Volleyball was never a sport that came easy to me but my determination set me apart from the rest. I will continue to outwork and outlast my opponents. Hard work wins when talent does work hard. I can’t wait to start travelling the world and competing at the top international level of beach volleyball.

I hope I have given you a better sense of who I am, where I came from and where I plan on going.  This coming season, you’ll see me on the podium. I thank everyone who has been a part of my journey so far. Having you believe in me is a constant motivation and empowerment as I climb over daily physical and mental obstacles. I hope to inspire the next generation of young athletes as I continue to live out the life I imagined. Dream big, be smart and work hard.

Stay beautiful, Namaste.

Stay tuned for the travel schedule of my upcoming season.