New season of successful program gives Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 the chance to be scouted by fifteen Team Canada sports for free, including Wrestling

TORONTO— Wrestling Canada will again be searching for Olympic potential through the RBC Training Ground program this season.

Developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, and with support from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification program dedicated to finding and funding Canada’s future Olympians.

For the program’s 10^th season new NSO partners Field Hockey Canada and Biathlon Canada join longstanding partners like Cycling Canada, Rugby Canada and Freestyle Canada to discover athletes for their national teams.

Since its inception in 2016, RBC Training Ground has helped 21 program alumni reach the Olympic Games, 12 of whom have brought home medals for Team Canada. Most recently, 16 program alumni were named to Team Canada for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

At each qualifying event, participants from a wide range of sport backgrounds perform speed, strength, power, and endurance benchmark testing in front of National Sport Organizations (NSO) partners. One hundred hopefuls will then compete at a National Final. Up to 35 athletes will be selected as RBC Future Olympians and receive funding, mentorship, and other resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.

In addition to new sport partners, for year 10 RBC Training Ground is providing more funding support for athletes and implementing program updates designed to provide greater access to high-performance sport for athletes from a wide range of backgrounds.

“RBC Training Ground has always been committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring young athletes across Canada have fairer and more inclusive opportunities to participate in sport,” said Shannon Cole, chief brand officer, RBC. “These meaningful new program updates will help make chasing Olympic dreams more accessible for all athletes across Canada. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the COC and working alongside our sports partners to find and fund the next generation of Team Canada athletes.”

Program Updates for 2025

• RBC Training Ground Women’s Hour – an optional, scheduled participation timeslot at all RBC Training Ground qualifying events reserved for women. Athletes will be able to select this option during the registration process. This program update provides women with the option to compete in an environment that may feel more comfortable for them.
• RBC Training Ground Athlete Accelerator – a new funding and support opportunity for RBC Training Ground participants facing financial barriers to high-performance sport. In addition to funding, recipients will receive educational development, mentorship support and financial literacy resources. All eligible athletes are able to apply following participation at a 2025
• RBC Training Ground Inclusion Council – a council to help further advance RBC Training Ground’s commitment to providing fair and inclusive opportunities for all athletes. Members will include representatives from the Canadian Olympic Committee, RBC, National Sport Organizations (NSO), former athletes and other industry leaders focused on inclusion.
• Expanding program access to more communities – program schedule to include new qualifying events (i.e., in Yellowknife, N.W.T and Windsor, ON) intended to reach talent who have not always had the same access to participate (e.g., Indigenous and racialized communities, geographically isolated groups, among others).

“While some participants are looking to re-energize or boost an Olympic dream in a sport they are already pursuing, others participate with the hope of being discovered and directed toward an Olympic sport they may have never considered,” said Evan MacInnis, Sport Technical Lead for RBC Training Ground.  “But they all rely on raw athleticism and determination to attract the attention of our sport partners and are excited to see where this program can take them.”

Athletes are encouraged to register for the newest season, which will include 20 local qualifier events, here.The complete schedule of 2025 RBC Training Ground qualifying events is available at RBCTrainingGround.ca.