Olympic scouts focus on Winnipeg athletes at RBC Training Ground

Local athletes showed off their skills to a group of scouts from the Canadian Olympic Committee on Saturday.

RBC Training Ground is a free talent scouting program for athletes between the ages of 14 and 25. Regardless of the participants' athletic experience, Olympic talent scouts from 11 different sports had the opportunity to demonstrate their basic speed, strength, power and endurance.

“We're trying to find and fund future athletes and future Olympians,” said RBC Olympian Braven Park.

Athletes underwent four standardized tests and had their anthropometric measurements taken.

“I think being here and being able to participate in the RBC training ground is very beneficial for the athletes,” Park said, adding that there are a number of opportunities for participants to find the sport they are good at.

“Organizations select athletes who meet the necessary criteria to excel in this sport,” he said.

The program has been running for nine years and has found and funded 13 Olympians and seven Canadian Olympic medalists, including Avalon Wastenis, Pierce LePage, Kelsey Mitchell and Marion Teno.

Local Olympians, including Paris 2024 hopefuls, attended Saturday's event and supported the participating athletes.

“I see a lot of potential here, a lot of great athletes, and I'm really excited to see what comes of it,” Park said.