Olympic talent scouts arrive in the Forest City for annual 'RBC Training Ground'
The Canadian Olympic Committee hosted a free talent search in London, Ont. Saturday.
Canadian track and field Olympian Brandon McBride was on hand to cheer on young athletes at the annual RBC Training Ground event inside Western University’s Recreation Centre.
“The RBC Training ground event is an athlete identification program. Essentially, it’s to help identify the young and upcoming talent and basically bridge the gap from where they are currently to where they want to be,” explained McBride.
'RBC Training Ground' is open to any athlete between the ages of 14 and 25, regardless of their sport background.
Parents were on hand as their children took part in a number of drills for just over an hour.
“He gets to try a few different sports that he doesn’t normally participate in, and hopefully build some more confidence in athletics,” said Jordan Dindia, whose 17-year-old son participated in Saturday’s training.
Talent scouts from 11 different Olympic sports were on hand.
- Bobsled Canada Skeleton
- Canoe Kayak Canada
- Climbing Canada
- Cycling Canada
- Freestyle Canada
- Luge Canada
- Rowing Canada
- Rugby Canada
- Speed Skating Canada
- Volleyball Canada
- Wrestling Canada
“We’re looking at potential future cyclists, we’re looking at their beep tests, their vertical jumps, a whole bunch of other stuff to see if they’d be a potential future Olympian,” said Ryan MacDonald, Canadian Athlete and Cycling Representative from National Cycling Institute Milton.
Two new National Sport Organizations will also be added to the mix this year, Football (Flag) Canada and Squash Canada, both of which will be making Olympic debuts at the LA 2028 Summer Olympics.
Cruz Dindia participated in the training test, “I was feeling pretty gassed already after the vertical jump, but I tried my best. I did pretty good in all of the events, above average in everything.”
“I wish this was around when I was in high school and whatnot, I had to be essentially one of the best in the country just to shake hands with some of these individuals, some of the national team coaches,” added McBride.
The program has already found and funded 13 Olympians and seven Canadian Olympic medalists.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
American Airlines drops law firm that said a 9-year-old girl should have seen camera on toilet seat
American Airlines has replaced the law firm that told a judge a nine-year-old girl was negligent in not noticing there was a camera phone taped to the seat in an airplane lavatory.
Luciano Benetton says he's stepping down as chairman of family-run brand as losses top US$100 million
Luciano Benetton, a co-founder of the apparel brand, announced he was stepping down as chairman in an interview published on Saturday with Milan daily Corriere della Sera. He blamed current management for losses of 100 million euros (US$108.5 million) that he discovered last year.
Toddler dies after being struck by recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
1 dead, 3 in hospital after flying wheel crashes into bus windshield on QEW
A man is dead, and three others are in hospital after a flying wheel crashed into a coach bus on the QEW in St. Catharines.
How to keep insects out of your house, according to an entomologist and other experts
Now that temperatures have warmed up even more this spring, you may be anxious at the thought of bugs invading your home or you may already be battling the pests. Here are expert tips on how to keep them away.