Four athletes with local ties get chance at second athletic endeavour.

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For four athletes with local ties, it’s a chance at a second athletic endeavour.

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RBC Training Ground, which looks to identify athletes with Olympic potential from across the country, drew nearly 70 athletes to it Windsor stop last month.

“I first heard about the RBC Training Ground event through my friends, who also attended this event,” said Ella Earish, a 16-year-old gymnast that attends Riverside high school. “We’re both very active and competitive and it sounded like a unique opportunity to test ourselves in a high-performance setting.

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“For me, it was about stepping outside of my comfort zone and seeing how I measured up across a range of athletic abilities. I went in with an open mind, hoping to learn more about my strengths.”

Earish was tapped for a further look along with a trio of Windsor Lancers in Kailyn Robertson, from women’s soccer, Riley Robitaille, from track and field, and Liam Hoskins from football.

“I went to the event a couple of years ago in Guelph and thought it was a really cool experience,” said the 22-year-old Robertson, who is a Vista Academy product. “When I saw it was coming to Windsor, I texted my friend and told her we should sign up.

“I was really just going into it to test my limits and see if I improved from the last time I did it in 2022. I’ve also always been interested in seeing if I could be impactful in a sport like bobsleigh or rowing and this event provides a great opportunity to see if I had the attributes that could help make me successful.”

Robertson, Robitaille and Hoskins were all tapped by Bobsleigh Canada while Earish will follow up with Ski Jumping Canada.

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“I wasn’t really sure what to expect and I was pretty surprised by ski jumping,” Earish said. “I’ve never been skiing before, but I’d like to try.”

Athletes were put through seven tests at the event, which was held at the St. Denis Centre. Tests included wing span, vertical jump, an isometric mid-thigh pull to test strength and force production capabilities, two different acceleration times, a relative strength test and a shuttle run.

“Having the event hosted in my hometown, in the same facility that I train in every day, it was hard to pass up the opportunity,” said the 20-year-old Robitaille, who is a Riverside high school product. “I was most excited to be part of the talent identification process and see first hand what goes on to advance as a Canadian athletes.

“I am overwhelmed and excited to be considered for anything. Looking forward to see what the next steps might entail.”

For the Lancer trio, university competition is quickly coming to an end. Already, the 24-year-old Hoskins is in camp with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders after being drafted a week ago. Robertson is headed into her last year of eligibility while Robitaille will finish her degree in kinesiology next year.

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“As my soccer career is coming to an end, I don’t think I’m ready to give up elite athletics and I’m definitely going to look into other opportunities outside of soccer,” Robertson said. “I think this program is a great way to look at some of those opportunities.”

Earish is still waiting to hear about further testing with Ski Jumping Canada. Meanwhile, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton will hold a camp in Calgary next month. Robitaille plans to attend, but Hoskins situation with the Roughriders makes it unclear if he will be able to participate while Robertson has already ruled it out because of a conflict, but hopes to get another chance down the road.

“Unfortunately, I can’t attend it as I’m completing the internship portion of my master program this summer, but I let them know of my interest and hope to be considered for any future events,” Robertson said. “It’s definitely something I’m interested in pursuing.”

jpparker@postmedia.com

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