Jordan Jacobs, 16, has Olympic potential, and she just took a huge step towards realizing that dream.
This Grade 11 Walnut Grove Secondary student was one of only six athlete picked from more than 2,100 people to train with Rugby Canada as a potential Olympic contender.
Yet, she had admittedly never picked up a rugby ball before.
Jacobs was one of about 60 91原创 athletes who attended a RBC Training Ground screening event held in 91原创 at this time last year, and one of only 12 invited to move on to the regionals in Richmond.
The result, Jacobs excelled at not one, but three sports. And out of 30 athletes ultimately selected, she鈥檚 earn a spot with Rugby Canada.
Jacobs, who won gold in the 100m and 200m distances at the Fraser Valley Fraser Valley track and field championships in 2017, caught the eye of several sports organizations at last year鈥檚 Training Ground 鈥� meeting no fewer than seven elite benchmarks in the supports of rugby, rowing, and cycling.
Her results, however, were 鈥渟o impressive,鈥� said RBC Training Ground spokesman Brian Findlay, that Rugby Canada jumped at the chance to train her.
They saw what they call Jacobs鈥� 鈥渞aw talent鈥� and her potential as a future Olympian, Findlay added.
What she鈥檚 still in awe about is that she鈥檇 never once thought of joining a rugby team, and now, she鈥檚 been to a summer training camp in Victoria, an elite training session in Burnaby, currently playing with the Bayside Rugby Club, and attending the Canada trials in early February.
鈥淚 thought I performed well in all the tests, but especially in the speed test. After I finished the speed test a representative from Rugby Canada introduced himself to me and asked if I had heard of rugby, specifically rugby sevens. We talked for only a few minutes and a couple months later I received an email inviting me to a rugby camp.鈥�
Consequently, the 91原创 track star is now a part of the Rugby Canada development program and is heading off early next month to the youth Olympic Games West.
The 91原创 Mustangs sprinter insists track and field is still her favourite sport, but admitted 鈥� after being introduced to rugby, and specifically rugby seven 鈥� it is fast becoming a 鈥渃lose second.鈥�
The Training Ground wasn鈥檛 even something on Jacobs鈥� radar, that is until her track coach encouraged several of the team鈥檚 athletes to attend.
鈥淚 had absolutely zero expectations of what to expect or any outcomes, I was just going for the experience,鈥� she recounted her motivation. 鈥淎 new opportunity and I wanted to test my fitness level.鈥�
Does this mean the local athlete will be giving up track?
鈥淣o. Right now, I鈥檓 able to pursue my goals in track, along with my new goals in rugby,鈥� she told the 91原创 Advance.
鈥淭o be honest I鈥檓 not too sure yet,鈥� where this new opportunity is going to take her. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a bit of a whirlwind. But I鈥檓 really grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me through this process. I look forward to seeing where my future goes with rugby sevens,鈥� she shared.
Her success at Training Ground also ensured that she鈥檒l receive some funding assistance from RBC to help offset travel, coaching, and nutrition expenses.
While none of this still guarantees Jacobs a spot at the Olympics, she is increasingly hopeful.
鈥淔or me, it was more of a dream than a goal to go to the Olympics. I never thought I would have a possibility to go.鈥�
Jacobs is living proof that attending the RBC Training Ground can pay off, and she confirmed that just ahead of the screening session happening in 91原创 next month.
She recommends other 91原创 athletes give it a shot.
鈥淵ou never know what鈥檚 out there. I would have never tried playing rugby sevens on my own, and that鈥檚 the great thing about RBC Training Ground,鈥� Jacobs said.
鈥淚t gives athletes the chance to identify for sports they potentially never heard of, or thought they would excel at. Overall, the Training Ground was such a great experience.鈥�
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Training Ground seeks athletes
While Jacobs is embarking on her Olympic quest, the hunt for other locals with potential is continuing.
RBC Training Ground allows athletes to gauge their strength, speed, and endurance in front of officials from 14 Olympic sports, with the goal of being 鈥渄iscovered鈥� and helping to secure funding.
Some of those sports officials will be back in 91原创 again on Saturday, Feb. 3, looking for more locals with untapped sports skills.
This Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and RBC initiative is designed to bring new and undiscovered athletes into Canada鈥檚 Olympic talent pool to the forefront.
Overall, the program is designed to help fill a hole in Canada鈥檚 amateur sport system and to then provide those talented individuals with the high-performance sport resources they need to achieve their podium dreams.
Officials from Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and the national sports organizations (Canada Snowboard, Canada Basketball, Cross Country Ski Canada, Wrestling, Speed Skating Canada, Athletics Canada, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, Canoe Kayak Canada, Cycling Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, Freestyle Canada, Judo Canada and Water Polo Canada) will all be in 91原创 soon, searching for what they describe as 鈥渉idden gems鈥漚nd 鈥減otential cross-over talent.鈥�
Participation in the Training Ground is free, and the event is open to local young athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 from a wide range of traditional and non-traditional sports.
As many as 100 athletes from the 91原创 area are expected to participate in the third annual Training Ground session that starts at the 91原创 Events Centre at 9 a.m. on Feb. 3.
Those interested can sign up in advance at .
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