Photo supplied by RBC Training Ground.

By Curtis Galbraith

Local Sports

Beaverlodge athlete among 100 national finalists for RBC Training Ground

Oct 31, 2024 | 12:00 PM

The RBC Training Ground national final is set for Saturday in Halifax and a 19-year-old athlete from Beaverlodge will be among the 100 finalists.

Peyton Mecham was identified as having Olympic potential during testing in Grande Prairie in May, one of several stops across Canada where more than 2,500 athletes were tested.

He calls this “an amazing opportunity that only 100 people get.”

“My mother found out about it, but I only found out two days before it was actually happening.”

“The next-closest place would have been Edmonton, and I probably wouldn’t have just dropped everything and drove to Edmonton to try out. I definitely wouldn’t have found out if it wasn’t in GP.”

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Mecham has competed in track and field, snowshoeing and Ninja Warrior obstacle racing, but was deemed to have Olympic potential in skeleton.

“Skeleton was never a sport I ever thought about doing, but I tried it out because they said I’d be good at it and it’s really fun.”

Scouts at the testing session in Grande Prairie felt Mecham’s background in Ninja Warrior obstacle racing made him a potential skeleton slider.

“I guess so. I have no clue what they were looking for in the testing. The testing was jumping, running, your maximum deadlift and endurance, so I don’t know what stats they were looking for that related to skeleton. Obviously, my skills relate somehow,” adds Mecham.

In a news release from RBC Training Ground, Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada coach Joe Cecchini said Mecham was “an athlete with incredible body awareness and determination.”

“Coming from a background in Ninja Warrior, his ability to master new skills quickly has been a huge asset. Combined with the testing results he’s shown in both speed, power, and push times that are competitive on the national stage, we’re really excited about Peyton’s future.”

Mecham says he has been working on the things that the testing will include to get ready.

“There’s one part where I have to ride a bike for as long (and) as hard as I can, so I’ve been doing a lot of bike work for that.”

The top 30 from the national testing get funding to take part in their sport.

Mecham says he would love to pursue skeleton full-time, but that will depend on the cost.