N.W.T. skier scores gold at Canada Winter Games

The Northwest Territories scored its first medal— gold, no less — on Thursday at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, courtesy of cross-country skier Brendan Green.

Green, 20, of Hay River, beat out 50 competitors in the 15-kilometre freestyle event with a time of 43:14:70.

"It's a pretty hard race but everything came together and kind of fell into place," he said Thursday.

"Definitely focused on this race, hoping to do well, but a gold medal is a bit of a surprise! But it's awesome. I'm super excited."

Green's win is especially golden, given he came 25 seconds short of the podium last week in the biathlon races.

He is the first athlete from the Northwest Territories to compete in two different sports at the Games.

The gold medal was presented to Green by N.W.T. ski legends Sharon and Shirley Firth. David Greer of Whitehorse came in seventh in the same race.

The Games conclude on Saturday.