Search For Hidden Talent Continues

 

UK Sport- 17.12.09

Over 1000 Olympic hopefuls will be receiving an early Christmas present from UK Sport over the coming days, as they find out that they have been selected for phase one of the Talent 2016: Tall and Talented initiative.

Talent 2016: Tall and Talented is the first in a series of talent identification searches for athletes who could represent Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Launched by Olympic medallists Andy Hodge and Katherine Grainger back in October, Tall and Talented is searching for young athletes, between 15 and 22 years of age, over 180cm (female) or 190cm (male) tall, who think they have what it takes to represent their country in the sports of rowing or basketball on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Those invited to attend phase one testing across the UK throughout January will be put through their paces by EIS sports scientists and Olympic coaches in a battery of physical tests designed to identify their potential to succeed in the two sports. Beyond this stage, those that are successful will go through to further sports specific testing and trialling.

Lead Talent Identification Scientist for the Tall and Talented initiative, Natalie Dunman, said: “The standard of applications has been very high and we are delighted to be inviting over 1000 young athletes to phase one in January. Hopefully the scores they will achieve will match up to the high standard of their applications, and we will be able to take a good number forward for further trials with the sports.”

While applications for Tall and Talented have now closed, anyone interested in hearing about future Talent 2016 recruitment campaigns should register their interest here.

Meanwhile, applications have this week closed for the Talent 2012: Fighting Chance initiative, an opportunity for talented martial artists to transfer into the Olympic sport of taekwondo, with the aim of representing Great Britain in 2012. Successful applicants will be contacted in January 2010 with an invitation to phase one testing days in February 2010.

However, there is still time to get involved as an athlete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, by signing up to the Talent 2012: Paralympic Potential initiative – open to anyone with an impairment, aged between 15 and 35 years of age.  If you think you’ve got what it takes sign up now at www.uksport.gov.uk/talent. Applications close on 11 January 2010.

Follow the progress of all our talent identification campaigns on the UK Sport page on Facebook