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Chilliwack dancer makes finals in Canadian Olympic talent search

22-year-old Amy Vander Wyk in the top 100 out of 4,000 identified as a possible future Olympian
Paul Henderson
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Amy Vander Wyk of Chilliwack has been named a finalist in RBC Training Ground - the Canadian Olympic Committee’s free annual cross-country search for new Olympic talent. (Submitted) Amy Vander Wyk, 22, of Chilliwack has been named a finalist in RBC Training Ground - the Canadian Olympic Committee’s free annual cross-country search for new Olympic talent. Vander Wyk is one of 100 across Canada, and seven in B.C., who made it to the finals out of 4,000 who tried out. (Submitted)

Amy Vander Wyk is a dancer and a fitness buff whose athletic skills could send her in Olympian directions.

The 22-year-old from Chilliwack is one of just seven B.C. athletes out of the 100 across Canada named a finalist for RBC Training Ground – the Canadian Olympic Committee’s free annual cross-country search for new Olympic talent.

Despite having no experience in any Olympic sport, Vander Wyk has been deemed to have Olympic potential.

“I do work out five times per week and do some heavy lifting, but really just signed up to test my strengths and weaknesses,” Vander Wyk. “It’s exciting to see what might happen.”

Vander Wyk has spent the past several years dancing and studying biology at UBC Okanagan.

Over the past several months more than 4,000 athletes participated in RBC Training Ground, performing core speed, strength, power and endurance tests in the hopes of being noticed by one of eight participating Olympic sports. Some athletes completed the tests in person, and some using a virtual format.

“Amy was one of the top female performers from B.C. with an excellent vertical jump of over 60 centimetres,” said Evan MacInnis, technical director with RBC Training Ground. “The participating sports are interested in the type of raw athletic skills Amy has shown to possess.”

The finalists will now compete in the RBC Training Ground national final, with the chance of being one of 30 athletes to earn funding and a spot on Team Canada. The 30 athletes selected for funding will be announced in early January 2022, following a nationally televised special documentary.

The following National Sport Organization partners participate in RBC Training Ground to identify athletes: Boxing Canada, Nordic Combined Canada, Ski Jumping Canada, Speed Skating Canada, Freestyle Ski Canada, Cycling Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada and Canoe Kayak Canada.

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