Hay River biathlete Brendan Green heading to Olympics
Green joins speed skater Michael Gilday as N.W.T. athletes who qualify for Sochi
Another northern athlete is heading to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in February.
Biathlete Brendan Green is originally from Hay River, N.W.T. On Friday, he won the final day at the Olympics & IBU Cup Trials in Canmore, Alta., and grabbed the final spot on the Canadian Olympic Biathlon Team.
A year ago, Green was recovering from back surgery. He remembers how difficult that was, and since then has set small goals for himself. The first was putting a pair of skis back on his feet, which he says made him feel free again.
"You know, at that point [a year ago] I had just been doing such intense rehab, but it's really monotonous rehab," Green said.
"So in a way I think it kind of felt like I had some freedom. You know, it was nice to be outside and breathing fresh air and that sort of thing."
Green says he's relieved to have finally made the team again. Now 27, Green made his Olympic debut in 2010 in Vancouver. His team finished 10th in the 4 X 7.5 km relay.
Support from fellow N.W.T. Olympian
On Friday afternoon, Yellowknife speed skater Michael Gilday congratulated Green.
Gilday, 26, is also heading to Sochi in a few months, which is his first year competing at the Olympics. He didn't make it to Vancouver, after losing the final qualifying round by just 0.13 seconds.
Another N.W.T. athlete took part in Olympic qualifying rounds this weekend, but wasn't so fortunate.
Yellowknife snowboarder Molly Milligan competed in the FIS Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup at U.S. Snowboarding and Freeskiing Grand Prix on Friday in Colorado, U.S.. She finished 42nd in that race and didn't qualify to move onto the final round.
The Olympics in Sochi, Russia begin Feb 7.