RBC Training Ground, a nation-wide talent identification and athlete funding program, is proud to announce the 30 RBC Future Olympians for 2018. These 30 athletes competed in RBC Training Ground events hosted across Canada, proving that they have what it takes to be Canada’s Next Olympian. Selected by the partnering National Sport Organizations, these 30 athletes will receive access to funding and resources to support their Olympic dreams.
Justine Ally
Sport: Freestyle Skiing
Age: 18
Hometown: Blainville, QC
Qualifier location: Saint-Jérôme, QC
Justine was an artistic gymnast for 9 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Freestyle Canada.
Austin Atkins
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Slalom
Age: 18
Hometown: Chilliwack, BC
Qualifier location: Langley, BC
Austin won a bronze medal in the Men’s K1 event at the 2018 National Championships. In 2017 he attended ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4.
Élodie Bergeron
Sport: Freestyle Skiing
Age: 17
Hometown: St-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC
Qualifier location: Québec, QC
Élodie was an artistic gymnast for 13 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Freestyle Canada.
Fancy Bermudez-Chavez
Sport: Rugby
Age: 16
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Qualifier location: Red Deer, AB
Fancy played basketball for 4 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rugby Canada. She was a member of the U16 Alberta Rugby 15s team and won bronze at the 2017 Canadian Rugby Nationals. Since then, she has been selected for the U18 Alberta Rugby 7s team.
Samuel Boisvert
Sport: Skeleton
Age: 23
Hometown: Sept-Iles, QC
Qualifier location: Saint-Jérôme, QC
Samuel played volleyball for 4 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.
Morgan Boot
Sport: Rowing
Age: 17
Hometown: Cochrane, AB
Qualifier location: Cochrane, AB
Morgan was a hockey and ringette goalie for 10 year, prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rowing Canada. She has also competed in track & field and basketball.
Trevor Boyd
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Slalom
Age: 19
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Qualifier location: Cochrane, AB
Trevor won a silver medal in the Men’s K1 event at the 2018 National Championships. He previously competed at the Junior World Championships in Slalom Kayak.
Jacklynn Boyle
Sport: Cycling
Age: 21
Hometown: Kingston, ON
Qualifier location: Kingston, ON
Jacklynn played ice hockey and volleyball for 8 years, competing provincially and nationally, prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Cycling Canada.
Gavin Broadhead
Sport: Speed Skating
Age: 23
Hometown: Hay River, NWT
Qualifier location: Medicine Hat, AB
Gavin was the top performer at the RBC Training Ground Alberta Regional Final. He has played hockey for the past 15 years including parts of three seasons in the Western Hockey League, and competed for a year in track, prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Speed Skating Canada.
Sarina Burry
Sport: Rowing
Age: 16
Hometown: Whitby, ON
Qualifier location: Toronto, ON
Sarina attended the Ontario Rowing Championships, winning a bronze medal.
Ashley Card
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Age: 19
Hometown: Hammond Plains, NS
Qualifier location: Halifax, NS
Ashley competed at the 2016 ICF Sprint Junior World Championships. She won 5 medals at the 2017 Canada Games, and 4 at the 2017 Sprint Canoe Junior Pan Am Championships. Ashley attended the 2018 National Team Trials, finishing in 8th in the K2 500m A final.
Kendra Cousineau
Sport: Rugby
Age: 17
Hometown: Port Colborne, ON
Qualifier location: Milton, ON
Kendra won a bronze medal with the Rugby 7s team at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Chloe Daniels
Sport: Rugby
Age: 15
Hometown: Sutton, ON
Qualifier location: St. Catharines, ON
Chloe played AA level hockey prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rugby Canada.
Thomas Doyle
Sport: Freestyle Skiing
Age: 20
Hometown: St. Mathias, QC
Qualifier location: Saint-Jérôme, QC
Thomas was previously on team Quebec and was named to Freestyle Canada’s National next generation team in 2018. He competed on the Nor Am Tour last season, with one podium finish.
Madison Grant
Sport: Rugby
Age: 17
Hometown: Cornwall, ON
Qualifier location: St. Catharines, ON
Madison was the top performer at the RBC Training Ground BC Regional Final. Madison competed in the Rugby 7s National Championships in 2017, finishing in 2nd, and won a bronze medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. She has also played basketball for 10 years.
Bret Himmelman
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Age: 20
Hometown: Hammond Plains, NS
Qualifier location: Halifax, NS
Bret attended the 2018 National Team Trials, finishing in 7th in the C2 1000m A final. Prior to attending RBC Training Ground, Bret represented Nova Scotia in Canoe Kayak (2017), Lacrosse (2014 and 2010) and Hockey (2010).
Sophia Jensen
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Age: 17
Hometown: Chelsea, QC
Qualifier location: Gatineau, QC
Sophia competed at the 2017 Junior World Championships, winning silver in the C1 200m and C1 500m events. She also competed at the Pan American Championships, winning the C1 200m, C1 500m and C1 1000m events. Sophia attended the National Team trials in 2018, finishing 3rd in the C1 200m and C2 500m A finals.
Teodor Kostelnik
Sport: Bobsleigh
Age: 25
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Qualifier location: Edmonton, AB
Teodor competed in athletics for 9 years and volleyball for 8 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.
Vivian Kristjansson
Sport: Rowing
Age: 18
Hometown: Brights Grove, ON
Qualifier location: Milton, ON
Vivian played hockey for 8 years and competed in shot put for 2 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rowing Canada.
Jayda Lauzon
Sport: Rowing
Age: 15
Hometown: Westholme, BC
Qualifier location: Victoria, BC
Jayda played soccer for 8 years and competed in track for 6 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rowing Canada.
Victor Lefebvre
Sport: Rowing
Age: 17
Hometown: Longueuil, QC
Qualifier location: Longueuil, QC
Victor played hockey for 11 years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rowing Canada.
Dennis Ohene-Adu
Sport: Athletics
Age: 18
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Qualifier location: Toronto, ON
Dennis competed at the 2018 Canadian Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing in 1st place in the U20 shot put. He also placed 2nd in the U20 shot put at the Athletics Ontario Championships.
Jana Peachey
Sport: Rowing
Age: 15
Hometown: Lower Sackville, NS
Qualifier location: Halifax, NS
Jana is a paddler with the Maskwa Aquatic Club, placing 7th in Canada in the U15 C1 event. She is also a member of the Nova Scotia provincial basketball team.
Steven Randall
Sport: Rowing
Age: 20
Hometown: Fredericton, NB
Qualifier location: Fredericton, NB
Steven was the top performer at the RBC Training Ground Atlantic Regional Final. He practiced MMA for years prior to attending RBC Training Ground and being selected by Rowing Canada.
Liam Smedley
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Slalom
Age: 23
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Qualifier location: Ottawa, ON
Liam won a bronze medal in the Men’s C1 event at the 2018 National Championships. He had previously competed at the 2016 U23 World Championships and ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 in 2017.
Jacob Steele
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Age: 21
Hometown: Halifax, NS
Qualifier location: Halifax, NS
Jacob attended the 2014 Pan-American Canoe-Kayak Championships, finishing 1st in the Junior K4 1000m and 2nd in the Junior K2 1000m. He competed at the 2015 ICF Junior World Championships. Since then, he competed at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, winning 3 medals for Nova Scotia, and the 2018 International Canoe Federation World University Championships. Jacob attended the 2018 National Team Trials, finishing in 3rd in the K2 1000m A final. Jacob was previously a competitive swimmer.
Jocelyn Taylor
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Slalom
Age: 17
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Qualifier location: Cochrane, AB
Jocelyn attended the 2018 Junior World Championships, coming in 32nd. She was named the Junior National Champion in 2017.
Vaughn Taylor
Sport: Athletics
Age: 18
Hometown: Regina, SK
Qualifier location: Saskatoon, SK
Vaughn competed at the 2018 Canadian National Championships, finishing in 1st place in the U20 400m. He also competed at 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, winning a silver medal in the 400m event. Vaughn played volleyball and basketball prior to attending RBC Training Ground.
Haydn Thomas
Sport: Rowing
Age: 19
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
Qualifier location: Victoria, BC
Haydn is currently a member of the University of Victoria men’s rowing team, winning the Novice of the Year Award in 2018.
Sarah Vegas-Dubois
Sport: Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Age: 25
Hometown: Montréal, QC
Qualifier location: Québec, QC
Sarah finished 1st in the K2 1000m and 2nd in the K1 200m events at the 2016 Junior Canadian Championships. At the Senior Championships in the same year, she finished 2nd in the K2 200m event. In 2017, Sarah finished 2nd in the K1 500m at the Junior Championships and K1 200m at the Senior Championships, as well as two other 3rd place Senior finishes. Sarah attended the 2018 National Team Trials, finishing in 5th in the K1 200m A final.
