Caitlin Ng, a Squash athlete from St. Catharines and Skyler Goudswaard, a track cyclist from Grimsby, have been named this week as two of 100 finalists in RBC Training Ground, the Canadian Olympic Committee’s official cross-country talent search.
The pair were among 2,500 athletes (aged 14-25) from a wide range of sports who participated in free local qualifier events across the country, performing core speed, strength, power and endurance tests in front of Olympic talent scouts to either find the sport for which they are most suited, or earn a funding boost in their existing sport based on their raw physical abilities.
The top 100 deemed to have great Olympic potential will now compete in the RBC Training Ground national final on Saturday November 2, 2024 in Halifax Nova Scotia. Thirty athletes from the final will earn funding, a spot on Team Canada with one of twelve partner National Sport Organizations, and an accelerated path to the Olympics.
Ng, 17, is a student at Ridley College.
“Caitlin played for Team Canada in our annual Battle of the Border, and she is so determined, dedicated mentally strong for a junior,” said Gabby Amoroso , Sport Program Administrative Coordinator at Squash Canada. “Combined with her physical abilities we’re excited to see her get this opportunity.”
Goudswaard, 26, was introduced to cycling two years ago through the program, and made the national final in 2022.
“Even just the sport-specific testing you get to do if an RBC Training Ground sport is interested in you makes things very accessible,” said Goudswaard, who is a former rower. “I was able to get on the track at the velodrome and have access to a bike which I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. I’m excited to get to Halifax and give it my all.”
During RBC Training Ground National Final testing, athletes’ speed, power, strength, and endurance will again be tested against sport-specific, high-performance benchmarks under supervision of program sport partners. An athlete’s anthropomorphic measurements (height, wingspan, etc), sport-specific testing (conducted following the qualifier stage) and competitive sport history also play a role in who is selected for funding.
The finalists, who will have transportation hotel and food covered by RBC, will be joined at the Final by RBC Training Ground alumni and several Olympic medalists.
The 30 athletes selected for funding will be announced in the weeks following the final. The funding is administered by the participating National Sport Organization bringing the athlete into its system, and is used for things like coaching, transportation, travel, equipment, and nutrition. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, Canoe Kayak Canada, Climbing Canada, Cycling Canada, Freestyle Canada, Luge Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, Speed Skating Canada, Volleyball Canada, Football (Flag) Canada, Squash Canada and Wrestling Canada – all looking to identify new talent for development.
The complete list of 100 finalists is available at RBCTrainingground.ca in the community/news section.
About the Program
Wrapping up its 9th year, RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification and athlete-funding program dedicated to finding and supporting the next generation of Canadian Olympians. Since its inception in 2016, the program has tested 16,000 athletes at free local events across Canada, while also offering flexible virtual opportunities to participants unable to attend qualifiers in person. Since its inception, more than 3,000 have been identified by NSO partners as having Olympic potential.
Twenty one RBC Training Ground alumni have competed at three Olympic Games, and together they’ve brought home a collective fourteen medals – including seven at the recent Paris 2024 Summer Games. Program alumni Krissy Scurfield and Avalon Wasteneys are among the most recent medal winners, bringing home silver for Team Canada. Program alumni Kelsey Mitchell (track cycling) and Marion Thénault (freestyle ski) are also among the medal winners, both of whom had never tried their Olympic sport before showing up at an RBC Training Ground event.
A new season of RBC Training Ground will be launching in early 2025. Visit RBCTrainingGround.ca for a complete schedule and details.
CONTACT for the athletes:
Skyler – skylergouds@hotmail.com / 905-512-4052
Caitlin – caitlinng19@gmail.com / 647-676-9964
