黑马磁力鈥檚 Evan Kimm has spent a lot of time on the basketball court, but when the RBC Training Ground Olympic experts took a look at his athletic skills, they wanted to put him on the water.
In the spring, he took part in the training ground talent search for future Olympic athletes. The results were a surprise 鈥� he should be a rower not a thrower.
鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in playing new sports. I鈥檝e been playing basketball all my life,鈥� he said.
The teen has impressed the Canadian Olympic Committee which invited him to a national training event later this month in Calgary, the only 黑马磁力 athlete chosen.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to go to Calgary,鈥� said Kimm, a centre with the 2018 Team BC U15 basketball team.
It took an outsider鈥檚 perspective on Kimm鈥檚 abilities to see that he may be more successful in another sport.
His sport background, combined with his measurements (height and armspan) results in speed, power, strength, and endurance benchmark tests, caught the eye of Olympic talent scouts, according to organizers.
But first there was an obstacle. He admits to being a bit intimidated about taking on a water sport.
鈥淚 did have a really big fear of water but I kind of got over it when I started practicing,鈥� he said.
He hasn鈥檛 gotten out onto the water as much as he would like.
鈥淩owing makes sense,鈥� Kimm said. 鈥淚 have the strength.鈥� It kind of opened my eyes to all the other sports that I could be successful in.鈥�
The 16-year-old who is about to start Grade 11 would like to take his sports as far as he can in life but for now, he鈥檚 focused on how it links with education.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to play sports professionally. If I could get a scholarship for anything, that鈥檚 my main goal right now,鈥� the Brookswood Secondary student said.
Kimm鈥檚 Olympic journey continues with a trip to Calgary as one of 100 athletes invited to the national finals of the talent search.
He is now in a group of 100 athletes who will compete for funding (by redoing the benchmark tests) and a spot on one of eight partner National Sport Organization (NSO) teams at the RBC Training Ground National Final on Sept. 14 in Calgary.
Thirty athletes at the event will be awarded funding and sign up with a national program.
Transportation to Calgary, hotel and food are all included for the invited athletes.
At the event Kimm will also have the chance to pick the brains of Olympic champions Justin Kripps (bobsleigh, 2018), Patrick Chan (team figure skating, 2018) and Penny Oleksiak (100m freestyle swim, 2018), who are all on site to inspire the participants. Tokyo 2020 medal hopeful Melissa Humana-Paredes (world number 1, beach volleyball) will also be on site.
RBC Training Ground has tested over 7,000 athletes at 98 free local events in 35 different Canadian communities. Kimm鈥檚 mom told him about the local training camp held at the 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
鈥淚t just sounded interesting to get ranked, so I thought I鈥檇 try it out,鈥� Kimm said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure how far I鈥檇 go.鈥�
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