Could this Airdrie athlete be Canada’s next Olympian?

Airdrie’s own Darby Beeson, 18, has been named one of 100 finalists in the prestigious RBC Training Ground, a national talent search run by the Canadian Olympic Committee. The program, designed to discover and fund potential future Olympians, identifies athletes who may excel in sports they’ve never considered.

Beeson, a dedicated speed skater and former player on Canada’s Junior National Roller Derby team, was thrilled to cut.

“I had just finished a speed skating practice, and I saw a message from my mom saying check my email right away. I looked and saw I made the top 100. I was absolutely thrilled and super excited,” Beeson shared. “I’m excited to fly and meet new athletes and just to be in such an awesome environment.”

RBC Training Ground brought together 2,500 athletes aged 14-25 nationwide to participate in free qualifying events. Athletes were tested on core skills like speed, strength, power, and endurance in front of Olympic talent scouts to find the sport they’re best suited for or gain financial support for their current sport. 

“Speed skating is very expensive, so the chance to earn some funding and be a little more comfortable in my sport means the world to me,” Beeson added.

The young Airdrie athlete also serves as an ambassador for the Canadian Club Foot Society, using her experiences to inspire others.

“My biggest barrier in sport has been my clubbed foot,” Beeson said. “It’s involved a lot of surgeries, which has never been easy, especially being an athlete. Being in sports with my disability was definitely hard on my parents, and they had to make some huge sacrifices for me to pursue my sport.”

Beeson and the other finalists will compete in the RBC Training Ground national final on Saturday, November 2, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At this stage, 30 athletes will earn funding, a spot on Team Canada with one of 12 partner National Sport Organizations, and an accelerated path toward the Olympics.

The final will see athletes undergo rigorous sport-specific tests measuring speed, power, strength, and endurance. Their anthropometric data (such as height and wingspan) and sports history will also factor into the selection process. In addition to having their travel, accommodations, and meals covered by RBC, the finalists will get to meet RBC Training Ground alums, including Olympic medalists.

For Beeson, this opportunity represents more than just competition – it’s a step closer to her Olympic dream. The 30 athletes who receive funding will be announced in the weeks following the final, and the funding will go toward essentials like coaching, equipment, travel, and nutrition.

Now in its ninth year, RBC Training Ground has tested 16,000 athletes across Canada and identified more than 3,000 with Olympic potential. Several alums have won a collective 14 Olympic medals, including track cyclist Kelsey Mitchell and freestyle skier Marion Thénault, who discovered their Olympic sports through the program.

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