Your Olympic Dream Begins Here

By David Saunders, Health Editor | UPDATED: 08:28, 08 July 2020

In an effort to identify the nation’s best athletes, the United States Olympic Committee has partnered with fitness leader 24 Hour Fitness to conduct a nationwide search for the Next Olympic Hopeful.

All interested athletes will be able to demonstrate their athleticism and show what sets them apart during the first round of Milk Life presents, The Next Olympic Hopeful program.

In partnership with the USOC, 24 Hour Fitness will host exclusive, in-club tryouts at 11 clubs nationwide. Your Olympic Dream Begins Here – Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at tryouts in participating clubs.Information is available at: www.24hourfitness.com/NextOlympicHopeful

The Tryouts:

• On April 13, athletes will complete several in-person tests demonstrating strength, mobility and endurance with the goal of qualifying for the next step of the Next Olympic Hopeful journey. Tests include: 30-meter sprint, pull ups and vertical jump, to show how they stack up against the country’s top athletes.

• Athletes unable to attend in-person tryouts are encouraged to apply through the online portal: www.TeamUSA.org/NextOlympicHopeful.

The Finalists:

• In mid-July, approximately 50 finalists (25 men and 25 women) will advance to the second round of competition

• Finalists will travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the epicenter of world-class training for American athletes, for additional screening and sport-specific training for the chance to win one of six coveted spots to train with Team USA.

The Winner’s Announcement:

• The finalists’ journey will be highlighted on Team USA social and digital channels and the entire program, including announcement of the winners, will be featured on USOC Productions documentary Milk Life presents, The Next Olympic Hopeful, airing on NBC in December 2019.

• The six winners will be invited to Team USA training camps in one of six Olympic sports – bobsled, cycling, rowing, rugby, skeleton and weightlifting.

• From there, the opportunities are endless!

“We are thrilled to partner with the USOC for the third consecutive year as they search for new Olympic-caliber talent,” said Tom Lapcevic, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, 24 Hour Fitness. “Because many athletes don’t discover sports such as bobsled and cycling until later in life, this offers a great transition for athletes who decide to try applying their skills to something new. We are so proud of the athletes that have tried out in our clubs. They provide inspiration to all of us that hard work and determination are the advantage to moving forward towards your goals.”

The Opportunities Provided By The Next Olympic Hopeful:

The Next Olympic Hopeful’s first two seasons produced a number of finalists and winners that have gone on to train and compete with Team USA following in-club tryouts at 24 Hour Fitness nationwide. A few of these athletes include:

• Josh Williamson: Next Olympic Hopeful bobsled winner in 2017, Williamson quickly catapulted into training, earned a spot on Team USA and has already earned five medals, including two golds, in international competition.

• Sylvia Hoffman: A Next Olympic Hopeful finalist turned competitive bobsledder. After training with the team, she was officially named a member of U.S. Women’s National Bobsled Team and now competes internationally, winning her first medal last fall.

• Stephanie Grant: After winning the Next Olympic Hopeful spot for the sport of boxing last year, Stephanie continues to train with Team USA and compete for a spot on the team and a chance at Olympic glory.

“When I heard about tryouts for the Next Olympic Hopeful, it was a good chance to test my strength because I was just rehabbing from a shoulder injury,” said Josh Williamson, Winner, Next Olympic Hopeful, Season 1. “I had absolutely no expectations about my chances. The club tryout testing was organized and the trainers conducting the tests made everyone feel comfortable, which created a great atmosphere. Any athlete who has dreamt of competing at this level, needs to seriously give the tryouts a shot. I’m proof of how this one moment can begin to change your life.”

24 Hour Fitness in club tryouts for The Next Olympic Hopeful will take place Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the following locations:

• San Francisco Bay Area, California: 24 Hour Fitness San Jose, 1610 Crane Court, San Jose, CA 95112

• Los Angeles, California: 24 Hour Fitness Downey, 8810 Apollo Way, Downey, CA 90242

• San Diego, California: 24 Hour Fitness Balboa, 7715 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92111

• Seattle, Washington: 24 Hour Fitness Bothell, 18006 120th Ave. NE, Bothell, WA 98011

• Pearl City, Hawaii: 24 Hour Fitness Pearl City, 1000 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City, HI 96782

• Denver, Colorado: 24 Hour Fitness Parker Arapahoe, 15900 E. Briarwood Circle, Aurora, CO 80016

• Dallas, Texas: 24 Hour Fitness Castle Hills, 4866 State Highway 121, Lewisville, TX 75056

• Houston, Texas: 24 Hour Fitness Katy Bella Terra, 5270 West Grand Parkway South, Richmond, TX

• New York/New Jersey area: 24 Hour Fitness Valley Stream Green Acres, 750 West Sunrise Highway, Valley Stream, NY 11581

• Miami, Florida: 24 Hour Fitness Miramar, 11645 Red Rd. H-1, Miramar, FL 33025

• Orlando, Florida: 24 Hour Fitness The Grove at Winter Park, 4270 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792.