Ryker Harris, a 16-year-old Slalom Canoe racer from Huntsville, was named this week as a finalist in RBC Training Ground, the Canadian Olympic Committee’s official cross-country talent search.
Harris was among more than 2,500 athletes (aged 14-25) from a wide range of sports who participated in free local qualifier events across the country in 2025, performing core speed, strength, power and endurance tests in front of Olympic talent scouts. Participating athletes aim to either find the sport for which they are most suited, or earn a funding boost in their existing sport based on their raw physical abilities.
The top 100 deemed to have great Olympic potential will now compete in the RBC Training Ground national final on Saturday November 1, 2025 in Vancouver. Thirty five athletes from the final will earn funding, a spot in the national development program with one of fifteen partner National Sport Organizations, and an accelerated path to the Olympics.
“Overall Ryker has embraced the pursuit of high-performance goals and has shown clear improvement,” said Emily MacKeigan, Senior Manager, High Performance Operations at Canoe Kayak Canada. “On the water he participated in several international development races in Europe this season, consistently progressing toward the top third of the field in his Under 16 age group. Ryker also won an impressive silver medal at the 2025 national championships in the Men’s Canoe event (open age group).”
While accepting his spot in the National Final, Harris was asked to explain what moving on in the talent search would mean. He stated, “I was having lunch with my dad at provincial Championships when I learned (I made the national final), it was such a good feeling to have hard work recognized. RBC future Olympian funding would help with hiring coaches and training overseas in Olympic settings, as an elite athlete.”
During RBC Training Ground National Final testing, athletes’ speed, power, strength, and endurance will again be tested against sport-specific, high-performance benchmarks under supervision of program sport partners. An athlete’s anthropomorphic measurements (height, wingspan, etc), sport-specific testing (conducted following the qualifier stage) and competitive sport history also play a role in who is selected for funding.
The finalists, who will have transportation hotel and food covered by RBC, will be joined at the Final by RBC Training Ground alumni and several Olympic medalists.
The 35 athletes selected for funding will be announced in the weeks following the final. The funding is administered by the participating National Sport Organization bringing the athlete into its system, and is used for things like coaching, transportation, travel, equipment, and nutrition. Participating sports include Biathlon Canada, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, Canoe Kayak Canada, Climbing Canada, Cycling Canada, Field Hockey Canada, Freestyle Canada, Luge Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, Speed Skating Canada, Volleyball Canada, Football (Flag) Canada, Ski Jumping Canada and Wrestling Canada – all looking to identify new talent for development.
The complete list of 100 finalists is available at RBCTrainingground.ca in the community / news section.
About the Program
Wrapping up its 10th year, RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification and athlete-funding program dedicated to finding and supporting the next generation of Canadian Olympians. Since its inception in 2016, the program has tested 18,500 athletes at free local events across Canada, while also offering flexible virtual opportunities to participants unable to attend qualifiers in person. Since its inception, more than 3,000 have been identified by NSO partners as having Olympic potential.
Twenty one RBC Training Ground alumni have competed at three Olympic Games, and together they’ve brought home a collective fourteen medals – including seven at the recent Paris 2024 Summer Games. Program alumni Krissy Scurfield and Avalon Wasteneysare among the most recent medal winners, bringing home silver for Team Canada. Program alumni Kelsey Mitchell (track cycling) and Marion Thénault (freestyle ski) are also among the medal winners, both of whom had never tried their Olympic sport before showing up at an RBC Training Ground event.
A new season of RBC Training Ground will be launching in early 2026. Visit RBCTrainingGround.ca for a complete schedule and details.
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Congratulations, Ryker! What an amazing accomplishment at just 16 — silver at Nationals and now a finalist for RBC Training Ground. Huntsville is cheering you on as you take this next step. Your dedication and love for the sport are inspiring. Whatever happens in Vancouver, know that Muskoka is already so proud of you. Enjoy every moment of this journey — it’s yours to celebrate, and ours to share in cheering on a young man from here who always gives his all. May your life continue to be blessed by your own achievements and the support of your community. Best wishes!”