Next Olympic Hopeful

USA Rugby Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. – The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has opened registration for the opening phase of Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful. Launched in 2017, the talent identification program encourages athletes from all backgrounds to test their skills for a chance to join Team USA in one of eight Olympic sports, including rugby sevens. Registration is open until June 2nd at nextolympichopeful.teamusa.org.

From the pool of applicants, approximately 100 athletes (50 men, 50 women) will be invited to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to undergo intensive, sport-specific training with the eight eventual winners given the opportunity to join the national team camp for their respective sport. The program allows potential Olympic athletes a training environment consistent with the rigors of preparing for an Olympic Games, featuring support staff from the USOC and National Governing Bodies, along with mentorship from Olympians.

During the 2017 cycle of the Next Olympic Hopeful, 2016 Rio Olympian and current Men’s Sevens’ standout Carlin Isles served as an athlete mentor, while current Women’s Falcon Kelli Smith and Men’s Falcon Devin Short were final winners in rugby.

Since their participation in the program, both Smith and Short have earned selections to international tours with USA Rugby’s developmental teams.

Smith joined the Falcons for the 2018 Okinawa Sevens Invitational where she competed alongside several current National Team players, moving on to continue her development with the American Rugby Pro Training Center, a USA Rugby National Development Academy.

Short, who recently joined the Men’s Falcons for the 2018 Sudamerica Sevens Tournament, equally had an opportunity to suit up against some of South America’s most competitive athletes; furthering his career with San Diego Legion of the newly-formed Major League Rugby.

The program’s journey will be highlighted on USA Rugby and Team USA’s social and digital channels while the entire program, including announcement of the winners, will be featured in the USOC Productions’ two-part broadcast, Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful set to air on NBC and NBCSN in November.

To register for Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful, visit nextolympichopeful.teamusa.org.

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.