RBC Rookie Camp: Unveiling the Next Generation of Talent in Canadian Sports

Camp des recrues RBC: Discovering the Next Generation of Canadian Olympians

Identifying and Supporting Canadian Amateur Athletes

What do Canadian Olympic medalists Marion Thénault, Miha Fontaine, Ryan Sommer, Avalon Wasteneys, Jerome Blake, Lauriane Genest, and Kelsey Mitchell all have in common? These athletes compete in different sports, some in summer sports and others in winter sports. However, they all started their Olympic journey at the same place – the RBC Rookie Camp. The RBC Rookie Camp is a national program designed to identify and support young Canadian Olympic hopefuls. Since its launch in 2016, 13 former program participants have become Olympians. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Team Canada had eight athletes from the RBC Rookie Camp, and five others made it to Beijing 2022. Most recently, former RBC Rookie Camp member Pierce LePage was crowned the 2023 world champion in the decathlon. Could you be the next one? Here’s what you need to know about this program.

What is the RBC Rookie Camp?

The RBC Rookie Camp is a free program designed to identify and support talented Canadian amateur athletes. At the RBC Rookie Camp, athletes undergo tests to gather data on their strength, speed, power, and endurance, under the watchful eye of professionals from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network and National Sport Organizations (NSOs). Athletes identified as having strong Olympic potential receive support from RBC in the form of funding, as well as mentoring opportunities.

Who can participate?

The RBC Rookie Camp was designed with the deep conviction that high-level sports should be accessible to all athletes. The program is free, and anyone can sign up to participate in the qualification events. The RBC Rookie Camp targets individuals aged 14 to 25 to discover those who have the potential to participate in the Olympic Games, whether early or later in their careers.

What kinds of tests are conducted?

Athletes undergo tests based on four categories of athletic qualities: speed, power, endurance, and strength. These tests not only assess overall athletic qualities but also help identify the specific sport that might suit the athlete best. Some of the evaluation tests include:

• 40-meter sprint (speed)
• Isometric mid-thigh pull (strength)
• Vertical jump (power)
• Multiple stage 20-meter shuttle run, also known as the Léger-Boucher test (endurance)

Athletes participating in virtual tests – accessible to anyone with an internet connection – are evaluated using tests that require strength, speed, and power. The evaluation consists of three tests:

• Running sprint (20m)
• Vertical jump
• Multi-stage conditioning (also known as the beep test, shuttle run, or Léger-Boucher test)

What is the National Final?

Based on the results and data collected from all the RBC Rookie Camp qualification events, including virtual events, as well as sport-specific tests conducted afterwards, the top 100 athletes named by partnering NSOs are invited to participate in the National Final. The National Final represents the final stage of testing before selection for the RBC Future Olympians program, in which the top 30 athletes will receive ongoing support throughout the program. This year, the National Final will take place on December 2nd in Toronto. The list of RBC Future Olympians will be announced in early 2024.

Which NSOs are participating?

The RBC Rookie Camp is partnered with the following National Sport Organizations:

• Volleyball Canada
• Wrestling Canada Lutte
• Triathlon Canada
• Speed Skating Canada
• Rugby Canada
• Rowing Canada Aviron
• Luge Canada
• Freestyle Canada
• Cycling Canada
• Climbing Escalade Canada
• Canoe Kayak Canada
• Boxing Canada

How does the funding work?

Athletes selected for the RBC Future Olympians program will receive financial assistance that can be used for travel expenses, competition fees, training camps, coaching, nutrition counseling, and other costs associated with sports participation. The funds are distributed directly to the athlete’s NSO by the Canadian Olympic Committee.

How can I sign up?

Registration and the most up-to-date information for all local RBC Rookie Camp events can be found at Related Stories

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