Around 100 of B.C.'s star athletes of the future mingled with and listened intently to the region's sporting heroes at the Olympic oval on Saturday.
The fourth Athlete Advance - organized by Canadian Sport Centre Pacific - attracted Ryan Walter, 1986 Stanley Cup champion, Karina LeBlanc, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist (women's soccer), Richard Peter, 2012, 2004 and 2000 Paralympic gold medalist, 2008 Paralympic silver medalist (men's wheelchair basketball) and Ashleigh McIvor, 2010 Olympic gold medalist (women's ski cross).
Athlete Advance is a one-day conference designed to educate and inspire B.C.'s current and future Olympic and Paralympic athletes in their quest for podium performances.
Athletes had the opportunity to attend workshops by leading experts in their respective fields, such as sports psychology, injury prevention and cooking on-the-go (which included ideas on how to make a nutritious meal out with a hotel room toaster).
There were also presentations on branding and how to handle the media intertwined with keynote speeches from the aforementioned professional athletes.
"The athletes that came ranged in age from their mid-to late teens to their 30s and 40s and there was a great atmosphere," said Scott Allen, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific's communications manager.
"The athletes came from places like Vancouver Island and all over the Metro Vancouver area.
"This was the second time we've brought the event to the oval and we hope it won't be the last."
Allen described his organization's role as being the "team behind the team," in its support of high-performance athletes.
