Wilfrid Laurier student identified as having Olympic bobsleigh potential

Noah Rau was identified as having Olympic potential in bobsleigh, despite knowing very little about the sport before the 2024 RBC Training Ground qualifier in Milton, Ont. (Source: Sammy York)

A second-year Wilfrid Laurier University student has been named one of the 100 finalists for the Canadian Olympic Committee's official cross-country talent search.

Noah Rau was identified as having Olympic potential in bobsleigh, despite knowing very little about the sport before the 2024 RBC Training Ground qualifier in Milton, Ont.

"I had no idea about bobsleigh and the programs that are available," said Rau, in a press release, who has a background in competitive swimming. "I'm excited to see where this could lead."

About 2,500 athletes, ages 14 to 25 from a wide range of sports, participated in free local qualifier events across the country earlier this year. They performed core, speed, strength, power and endurance tests in front of Olympic talent scouts to either find the sport for which they are most suited, or earn a funding boost in their existing sport.

The top 100 athletes deemed to have great Olympic potential will compete in the RBC Training Ground national final on Nov. 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

There will be 30 athletes from the final who will earn funding, a spot on Team Canada and an accelerated path to the Olympics.

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton high performance manager Ryan Sommer said Rau has great potential.

"His commitment to participating in sliding development camps signals, his ambition to enter the pilot pathway and compete on the international stage. He’s one of the new generation of pilots aiming for the 2030 and 2034 Olympic Winter Games," said Sommer, in the release.

The finals will involve sport-specific speed, power, strength and endurance testing based on high-performance benchmarks.