Ava Darbellay, a 14-year-old athlete from Lumsden, Saskatchewan, has recently transitioned from perfecting her biathlon skills to exploring the sport of luge. Selected as one of the 100 finalists by RBC Training Ground, a talent identification program by the Canadian Olympic Committee, Darbellay found herself training for luge, a sport she had never tried before, after participating in the program’s qualifier in Calgary.
Expressing her interest in various sports, Darbellay seized the opportunity to broaden her athletic horizons through the RBC Training Ground event, which attracted over 2,000 young athletes nationwide. Following rigorous performance tests, top performers like Darbellay gained access to funding, coaching, and pathways to elite training opportunities.
While initially shocked by being scouted for luge, Darbellay embraced the chance to delve into a new winter sport. Building on her biathlon background, which involves a mix of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, Darbellay’s physical prowess impressed luge coach Dania Obratov during a testing session earlier this year. Obratov highlighted the importance of early talent identification in luge and expressed confidence in Darbellay’s potential for success in the sport.
As Darbellay gears up for the RBC Training Ground national final in Vancouver, where top athletes compete for support and funding, her dedication to both biathlon and luge shines through. Despite the prospect of spending more time at the full-time luge track in Whistler, B.C., Darbellay reassures that she is not abandoning biathlon entirely, showcasing her commitment to excelling in multiple winter sports.