William Fergus was one of two Dunfermline Carnegie gymnasts to compete at the 1908 London Olympics, William Watters being the other. Carnegie was one of the leading gymnastic clubs in Britain in the early part of the 20th century and had won both the National Challenge Shield and International Challenge Shield. In Fergus, they had a real Olympic medal hopeful, as he had won the Carnegie club title three years in succession, and amassed 17 medals. An all-round sportsman, Fergus was a keen cyclist, roller skater and also played basketball. He owned a Dundee watch-making business, and enjoyed playing golf in his later years.