The United States Olympic Committee is accepting applications for the third season of Milk Life presents, The Next Olympic Hopeful now through May 8, 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 six participating sports – bobsled, cycling, rowing, rugby, skeleton and weightlifting. The six winners will be eligible to receive financial, training and medical support as they prepare for the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games.
The talent-identification program – which is presented by Milk Life and supported by 24 Hour Fitness – aims to increase and enhance the pipeline of world-class athletes pursuing Olympic sport opportunities in the United States. The last two seasons showcased some of the top athletes in the U.S., as three of the previous Next Olympic Hopeful participants have already made an impact for Team USA as members of the 2018-19 U.S. National Bobsled Team.
“Team USA’s Next Olympic Hopeful has changed my life and the lives of others in remarkable ways,” said Joshua Williamson, who was selected as bobsled’s 2017 winner. “I’m continually amazed at how this program discovers and develops such a deep well of talent. In the past two years alone, USA Bobsled has added three new members to its national team from Next Olympic Hopeful. I think that speaks volumes to the power of this program to produce the next generation of Olympic athletes.”
Athletes are invited to apply through the online portal, where they provide details about their sport experience and complete a pre-screen. Individuals can also attend in-person screening sessions at select 24 Hour Fitness locations across the U.S., or regional tryouts at three U.S. locations:
- In-person screenings at 24 Hour Fitness: April 13
- Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York/New Jersey area; Pearl City, Hawaii; Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington.
- Regional try-outs:
- April 6: Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation from 1-4 p.m. CST (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
- April 13: Turnstone from 1-5 p.m. CST (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
- May 4: VELO Center from noon-5 p.m. PST (Los Angeles)
Tryout information and registration instructions are available at TeamUSA.org/NextOlympicHopefuland 24HourFtiness.
‘We are incredibly excited to begin the process of discovering the newest Next Olympic Hopeful athletes,” said Rick Adams, USOC chief of sport performance. “This program has helped identify elite athletes from across the country who might not know about opportunities in Olympic sport, and it has made an immediate impact as we enter its third season. There is tremendous athletic potential throughout the country, and we look forward to building Team USA’s pipeline of athletes for years to come.”
“Milk has been a part of Team USA athletes’ journeys since they were kids – from their childhood kitchen table to their training table today. In fact, nine out of 10 U.S. Olympians grew up drinking milk[1].” said Victor Zaborsky, vice president of marketing at MilkPEP, the group behind the Milk Life campaign. “We’re proud to continue to help fuel this group of Next Olympic Hopeful athletes as they become role models for the next generation growing up with milk at home.”
The program will first narrow the pool of applicants to approximately 50 athletes (25 men, 25 women), who will be invited to spend several 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.
In addition to receiving professional coaching, training and sport science services while residing at the OTC, the athletes’ experiences and progress will be highlighted on Team USA social media channels, and the entire program – including the announcement of the winners – will be featured in the USOC Productions documentary in December 2019.
[1]9 out of 10 finding based on 675 responses received from survey invitations sent to all U.S. Olympic athletes.
About MilkPEP: MilkPEP, Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk companies, who are committed to ensuring all children have access to nutrient-rich milk. The MilkPEP Board runs the national Milk Life campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the powerful nutritional benefits of milk – with essential nutrients, including high-quality protein, in each 8-ounce glass. For more information, go to milklife.com.
About 24 Hour Fitness: Celebrating 35 years as an industry leader, 24 Hour Fitness transforms lives every day through fitness with a mission to create a healthier, happier world. Wrapped within the company’s vision to change 24 million lives by 2024, a vibrant team of 12,000 fitness professionals and group exercise instructors nationwide share their passion for people in a welcoming club community that offers support and celebrates member successes every day. 24 Hour Fitness is committed to working with a cross section of people and partnerships including athletes and fans through our relationships with the LA Rams, Denver Broncos, Spartan, and the United States Olympic Committee, among others. 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 more than 440 clubs nationwide. To learn more about 24 Hour Fitness and to find the club nearest you, visit www.24hourfitness.com.
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. The USOC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America’s athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
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