Saanich speed-climber Ethan Pitcher has been awarded Olympic talent search funding from the RBC Training Ground program.

Pitcher was one of 100 athletes invited to the Training Ground final on Dec. 2 in Toronto and was selected as a top 30 finalist.

B次元官网网址淚t was an amazing event,B次元官网网址� Pitcher said. B次元官网网址淭he top 30 athletes were given funding to help support them towards their Olympic goals. Getting that funding is very exciting for me. I needed it and IB次元官网网址檓 very happy.B次元官网网址�

Pitcher believes he will receive $25,000.

B次元官网网址淚 still have a meeting coming up to learn more about the actual funding itself.B次元官网网址�

Over 2,200 athletes participated in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Training Ground program, a nationwide talent search which supports future Olympic prospects. Athletes from a wide range of sports perform core speed, strength, power and endurance tests in front of Olympic talent scouts.

B次元官网网址淚t was really cool to see all these athletes from different sports coming together to give it their best,B次元官网网址� Pitcher said.

Funding is administered by the participating National Sport Organization and is typically used for coaching, transportation, travel, equipment and nutrition.

B次元官网网址淚t will help me with anything that I really need to support me along the way.B次元官网网址�

Pitcher regularly trains at Boulders Climbing Gym, which is located at StellyB次元官网网址檚 Secondary School.

BMX cyclist Nico Martinez Arroyo, a student at Royal Bay Secondary School, was also selected as a top 30 finalist.

READ MORE: West Shore BMX rider on the fast track with Olympic training

This is the Training Ground programB次元官网网址檚 eighth year, and they have tested approximately 14,000 athletes at events across the country. There have been 13 finalists who have competed at the Olympics, and they have come home with seven medals.

The next Training Ground season will kick off in February.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very cool program,B次元官网网址� Pitcher said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 highly recommend it to any athlete out there that wants to make a splash.B次元官网网址�

The program will be at the University of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 CARSA Performance Gym on March 2.