N.W.T. biathlete heads to Olympics

Biathlete Brendan Green of Hay River, N.W.T., is heading to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., this week, while his supporters in the Northwest Territories are cheering him on.

Green, 23, departed for Whistler on Monday, as he prepares to compete in the men's biathlon relay on Friday morning.

While family members and former coaches from Hay River, where Green grew up, will be watching him in Whistler, some people in the N.W.T. plan to show their support by wearing green on Friday.

"I honestly believe I have the best supporters in Hay River in the North," Green told CBC News in an interview.

"Like, sport in the North, especially in the smaller communites, is all kind of volunteer-based, with all the coaches and officials. I think when you come from a system like that, people personally know you and they're kind of personally involved with your dream. So the support that everyone has showed has really been amazing."

Started at age nine

Green startedtraining as a biathleteat the Hay River Nordic Club around the age of nine, former coach Pat Bobinski recalled.

"I took him out back with a rifle, I stripped it right down, and I just talked to Brendan for a few minutes and his maturity just was incredible," Bobinski said.

"He shot one target and I said, 'That's it, you're just as good as your brothers and sisters and you're on your way.'"

Green said even though he spents most of his winters competing around the world, he still hears from people back home.

"It's been awesome. After every race, when I check my email, there's always a ton of emails asking about the race and congratulating my performances and efforts and that sort of thing," he said.

"That's always motivating and inspiring to read those emails. And I know at home, everyone is watching."

Green said he recently received a big envelope with "words of encouragement" from his alma mater, Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. As well, the local business community has been supportive of him, he added.

"It's taken a long time to get to this level, but this whole community has definitely stood behind me through all the highs and lows thatI faced as an athlete," he said.