‘The Next Olympic Hopeful

Local trainer heads to Colorado Springs in his quest to become an Olympian

APPLE VALLEY —Fabian Griffith is working hard for a chance to join a very select group of people — Olympic athletes.

The 24-year-old 24 Hour Fitness personal trainer has earned has advanced to the final round of the “Milk Life presents, Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful.”

The competition is a result of the partnership between 24 Hour Fitness and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to streamline the committee’s recruitment process. Nearly 3,500 people signed up online for the tryouts held at 24 Hour Fitness clubs across the country, which resulted in 24 participants from a 90-person talent pool advancing to the final phase.

Griffith, a trainer at the Apple Valley location, left the High Desert Thursday to head to the final phase which takes place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where he will be put through intensive screening and sport-specific training.

The entire competition, including the announcement of the winners, will be covered in the USOC’s two-part documentary, “Milk Life presents, Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful,” which is scheduled to air on NBC and NBCSN in November.

Last month, Griffith attended the tryouts at the 24 Hour Fitness in Downey while he was still recovering from a pulled hamstring. The tryout was the first workout he had done since his injury.

“I was worried about that while I was trying out,” Griffith said. “I felt really, really happy about my performance and everything. I was just really hyped that I have the opportunity to even be (there).

Despite his injury, Griffith, who is trying out for rugby and bobsledding, qualified for the next round.

“I was always interested in those sports,” Griffith said. “Just watching it, with rugby I love the competitive aspect and the physicality aspect of it.

“With bobsled, even as a kid I’ve always found it really interesting. It’s one of my favorite winter sports.”

Griffith finds himself motivated by his parents. They keep him going throughout every challenge he faces.

“Their support is what drives me to try to succeed at everything I do,” Griffith said. “Honestly, I just want to make them proud.”

As for his training, Griffith has been preparing nonstop for his two unique sports.

“I looked up the requirement for bobsled,” Griffith said. “I came up with my own workout program and after I train my clients, I’ll go and train, work on explosiveness and stuff like that that goes into bobsled.”

His job at 24 Hour Fitness has presented him with a unique advantage that some of the other participants do not share.

“The advantages is that I’m at a gym, so I’m constantly motivated to workout,” Griffith said. “I will say that’s a huge advantage. I don’t have to think, ‘Oh, I have to go to the gym today.’ I’m here all day.”

Griffith has even noticed how the commitment of the people he trains has improved.

“When I had got cleared to tell that I got accepted, I made sure to tell my clients to share my happiness with them, but also to motivate them, to show that they can do whatever they put their mind to,” Griffith said. “That honestly took me by surprise, but I loved it because my clients are actually working harder, changing their diet and everything like that.”

Griffith has always been an intense athlete, even during his days at Silverado High School. After fracturing his femur in football, he moved on to basketball where he tore his ACL. He joined track his senior year because it was the one sport that did not injure him.

He runs the 100- and 200-meter dash. If he does not make it through the final phase of the competition, Griffith plans on competing in track until he has another chance to pursue an Olympic career.

“After track, if they have this competition again next year, I’m going to try out for this again,“Griffith said. “I’m not going to stop. I’m going to keep going until I make it to the Olympics.

“That’s the ultimate goal.”