Horns’ Aellen prepares for RBC Training Ground national final

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on September 28, 2022.

University of Lethbridge women’s rugby player Molly Aellen was announced earlier this month as one of the 100 finalists that will be a part of the RBC Training Ground national final in Ottawa next month.

“I haven’t been doing anything specific for that because I am in season for my university rugby,” said Aellen, on preparation.

“I’m doing lots of training through that. You know we’re in the gym three times a week and we’re training on fields. So I’m getting like all around fitness through that which I think will prepare me enough for what I’ll have to do at the national final.”

The 19-year-old was a part of 1,500 athletes in the spring who participated in a wide range of sports qualifiers who performed core speed, strength, power and endurance tests in front of Olympic talent scouts to find the sport for which they are most suited to accelerate their journey in an existing sport.

The program looks for athletes ages 14 to 25 and searches for Olympic potential and provides them with resources to achieve podium dreams.

Aellen participated in a qualifier in Calgary in May.

“This time in Calgary, it was my third time around, I really didn’t expect much to come out of it,” said Aellen.

“I was kind of just going with my siblings. So I was like ‘Yeah I should be fine.’ So it was really surprising. I was actually really shocked that I thought that I actually was identified and reached out (to) by some teams to come out for further testing.”

Rugby Canada, which is one of the nine National Sports Organizations who are recruiting athletes through the program, came calling in August.

“Since I already play rugby, I just kind of filled in some information and they go through the coaches and go already look at your playing and stats to get invited to their final,” she said.

“It wasn’t necessarily that I wanted (it) to be rugby, but it was pretty cool to know that I’m already in rugby and to then be identified there. It’s just to be an accelerated pathway through your rugby career being identified there.”

Cycling Canada got in contact with her initially and she tried cycling prior to rugby.

The top 30 athletes at the national final will earn funding for training and travel and a spot on Team Canada.

“I have always looked up to the Olympians and I love watching the Olympics,” said Aellen.

“It kind of was like a little dream that all young athletes have, is to compete at the Olympics at some point. And by going here, it’s something that you don’t have to be invited to, the qualifier event, you can just go and compete. So it gives an opportunity for anyone.”

The RBC Training Ground national final is on Oct. 22 in Ottawa.