Hay River biathlete Brendan Green heading to Olympics

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 thatwas, and since then hasset small goals for himself. The firstwas 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 Fridayafternoon, Yellowknifespeed skater Michael Gildaycongratulated Green.

Gilday, 26, is also heading to Sochiin a few months, which is his first year competing atthe Olympics. He didn't make it toVancouver, after losing the final qualifying round byjust 0.13seconds.

Another N.W.T. athlete took part in Olympic qualifying rounds this weekend, but wasn't so fortunate.

Yellowknife snowboarder Molly Milligan competed in theFIS Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup at U.S. Snowboarding and Freeskiing Grand Prix on Friday inColorado, U.S.. She finished 42nd in that race and didn't qualify to moveonto the final round.

The Olympics in Sochi, Russia begin Feb7.