Yellowknife 8-year-old steps up to the table at AWG

He's small, he's fast and he's ready to win not a medal, but a game of table tennis at the Arctic Winter Games.

At4-11" tall and65 pounds, ZacharyMathison is bigger than many of hisGrade 3 peers in Yellowknife.

But he'll be considerably smaller than his teenaged competitors from Greenland and Russia two circumpolar countries that consistently sends players who win gold and silver.

Zachary's hopes are high but hisexpectations are low.

"I doubt I'd get a medal I'd just like to win a game," Zachary said with a grin.

Sport North could not confirm if Zachary is the youngest player in AWG's 48-year history.

But executive director Doug Rentmeister confirmed Zachary is one of the youngest.Typically, athletes range in age from 13 to 18.

Games a family affair

Mathison's12-year-old sister, Tamara Mathison, also qualified for the table tennis team this year.

His brother Christopher Mathison, 14, qualified for volleyball.

Their Dad, Mike Mathison, is a longtime Yellowknifer who competed in four games between 1986 and 1984:basketball, volleyball andtwice for badminton.

Mike saidhe is proud, but cautious about Zachary's young age.

"There's a little bit of concern for him being on his own at the night times but the coach will be there and his teammates and I'll be in town [Fort Smith]," he said

How it all began

Mike said his youngest son was noticeably coordinated at an early age.

Zachary's love of table tennis began after his grandparents set up a tablein their Yellowknife home.

Since he started playing competitively, Zachary has won every tournament he's entered, despite being almost a decade younger than some of his competitors.

His love of the sportis so great, Zachary saved birthday and Christmas money to buy a special racquet. He did sohoping he'd make theteam, which he did in late January

Mike describes his son as quiet but a determined athlete.

"Hedefinitely wants to win but he's quiet. Not a man of many of words but he's definitely competitive," Mike said.