About 60 athletes ranging in age from 14 to 25 from all over the Okanagan took part in a first-of-its-kind Olympic search in Kelowna on Friday.
Called the RBC Training Ground, the event spearheaded in part by the Canadian Olympic Committee hopes to discover athletes with Olympic potential.
The judging is done by the Canadian Sport Institute with help from local sports organizations and coaches but it can come down to more than just the final score.
“Sometimes, it’s just a spark or how an athlete runs or how their body is moving — it can be as specific as that,” the Canadian Sport Institute’s Elissa Alarie said.
The athletes are tested in four categories; speed, endurance, strength and power.
The RBC Training Ground program has been underway for three years but it’s the first time it has taken place in Kelowna.
This year, the Olympic search is taking place in 30 communities across the country, including six in B.C.
Athletes from the Kelowna event will be selected to compete and undergo further testing at the B.C. Regional Final in Richmond on April 17.
The top performers in Canada will also get a chance to secure “Future Olympian” funding to help them achieve their podium dreams.