COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic Committee is accepting applications for the second season of Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful, inviting elite American athletes of all sporting backgrounds to pursue their Olympic dreams. To apply, visit TeamUSA.org/NextOlympicHopeful.
One winner will be invited to join national team camps for each of the eight participating sports – bobsled, skeleton, boxing, canoe/kayak, cycling, rowing, rugby and weightlifting. The four men and four women winners will be eligible to receive financial, training and medical support as they prepare for the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games.
The program – which is supported by USOC partner 24 Hour Fitness – aims to increase and enhance the pipeline of world-class athletes pursuing Olympic sport opportunities in the United States. The success of last year’s program resulted in two winners – Kyle Plante (bobsled) and Josh Williamson (bobsled) – earning a combined six medals in international competition.
“To say we are excited about the caliber of athletes the program has yielded is an understatement,” said Alan Ashley, USOC chief of sport performance. “The program has identified elite athletes from across the country who might not otherwise be on our radar – or know about opportunities in Olympic sport – and it has made an immediate impact. With the guidance of USOC and National Governing Body high performance teams, we plan to continue identifying impactful athletes and build on our pipeline of Team USA athletes for years to come.”
The number of participating NGBs increased from three to seven for the second season, including American Canoe Association, USA Bobsled and Skeleton, USA Boxing, USA Cycling, USRowing, USA Rugby and USA Weightlifting.
Athletes are invited to apply through the online portal, where they will provide details about their sport experience and complete a pre-screen. Athletes can also attend the in-person screening sessions on June 2 at select 24 Hour Fitness locations across 11 U.S. markets, including: Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York, New York; Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; and San Jose, California.
Another option for interested athletes is to attend one of the three regional tryouts, which is new to the program.
- May 19: Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
- May 26: East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tennessee)
- Early June: Florida State University (Tallahassee, Florida)
Tryout information and registration instructions are available at TeamUSA.org/NextOlympicHopeful and 24hourfitness.com.
The program will first narrow the pool of applicants to approximately 100 athletes (50 men, 50 women), who will be invited to spend five days at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. for intensive screening and sport-specific training. The OTC serves as the heart of Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States, and features world-class training facilities and access to leaders in sport medicine, psychology, nutrition, science and technology.
“I’ve had so many doors and opportunities open for me since winning Team USA’s Next Olympic Hopeful,” said Joshua Williamson, who was selected as bobsled’s 2017 winner. “It started with an in-club tryout at my local 24 Hour Fitness and within a couple months I was competing in the North American Cup. The whole experience has been surreal and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me – hopefully to Beijing in 2022.”
Williamson is a five-time medalist – including two golds – on the North American Cup circuit and will continue his training this summer at East Tennessee State University, a training site for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
In addition to receiving professional coaching, training and sport science services while residing at the OTC, the athlete’ experience and progress will be highlighted on Team USA social channels, and the entire program – including the announcement of the winners – will be featured in the USOC Productions documentary in November.
About the USOC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
About 24 Hour Fitness
As an industry leader for more than 30 years, 24 Hour Fitness changes lives every day through fitness. Conveniently located clubs, furnished with a wide variety of strength, cardio and functional training equipment, are the perfect environment for fitness professionals to deliver dynamic personal and group training programs. GX24® and cycle studios feature a popular array of live studio classes included with membership. Combined with a welcoming community, the compelling TV and magazine content of 24Life™, Fit:Perks® Rewards and the innovative My24® app, there are a multitude of offerings to engage and inspire every member to lead a full and healthy life both inside and outside of the club. Opening new clubs on average at the brisk pace of one every few weeks, 24 Hour Fitness is headquartered in San Ramon, CA and serves nearly 4 million members in over 420 clubs nationwide. Please visit 24hourfitness.com for more information and to find a club near you.