Inuvik speedskaters dedicate medals to late coach

Four speedskaters on from the Northwest Territories are dedicating their Arctic Winter Games medals to their late coach, Doug McLeod.

McLeod worked with the Inuvik Speed Skating Club for 10 years.

He died in February.

• Listen to Peter Skinner'sinterview with the athletes and their coach

Jackson Christie, 14, is one of the speed skaters behind the idea. He spent three years being coached by McLeod, and won a silver medal on his first day of the games this year.

He really worked on technique and the basics of speedskating, Christie says. Id want him to know that he helped me out a lot.

Alex Robertson, 17, won a fair play pin at the games after falling twice in a race, but still managing to complete the race.

Robertson attributes that tenacity to what he learned from McLeod: Always finish. Always cross the line. Never give up.

Robertson says McLeod had a smile on his face every time he finished a race.

He was one of the best coaches I had, he said.

Doug Robertson, Alexs father, says hes not sure McLeod had a background in speed skating himself, but says he did have two sons in the sport, and just kind of picked it up from there.

He really went out of his way to encourage skaters.