麻豆社区

Whitehorse biathlete Nadia Moser鈥檚 outstanding performance continued yesterday at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

The 17-year-old earned her second bronze medal of the national tournament in the 10-kilometre pursuit race, marking her third medal win for the Yukon 鈥� still the territory鈥檚 only medals of the Games.

Once again, Moser was flanked on the podium by B.C.鈥檚 Emily Dickson, who took gold, and Ontario鈥檚 Leilani Tam von Burg, who earned silver.

Moser completed her race in 35:34.6, more than one minute behind her two Canadian rivals, who were separated by less than one second.

Moser shot one clean round with her rifle, but missed six targets total, resulting in several penalty loops.

鈥淚 could have shot better, especially my last one,鈥� Moser said from Prince George yesterday. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot of room for improvement.鈥�

Moser said the pressure of the Games failed to faze her, and she was able to remain calm and focused.

鈥淚鈥坖ust do what I do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 feel any different than other competitions.鈥�

Moser鈥檚 younger biathlon teammate, Maria Peters, finished 16th with a time of 42:13.1.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really cool seeing Nadia on the podium,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of really good girls here.鈥�

Peters, 16, shot two clean rounds yesterday and continues to impress against rivals as old as 20.

On Sunday, Moser earned the territory鈥檚 first medal of the tournament 鈥� a silver in the 12.5-km race. She followed that up with a bronze in the 7.5-km sprint Tuesday, before earning her third straight medal yesterday afternoon at the Otway Nordic Centre.

The Grade 12 student at Porter Creek Secondary School also served as the Yukon鈥檚 flag-bearer for Friday night鈥檚 opening ceremonies, making her the face of Team Yukon thus far.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really fun and I was really surprised I got medals,鈥濃�圡oser said of her week of competition in B.C.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fantastic week, a little bit overwhelming,鈥� added biathlon coach Laurie Jacobsen. 鈥淲e came here thinking this was a possibility. We always knew Nadia has determination and that hasn鈥檛 changed.鈥�

Jacobsen said Moser鈥檚 positive attitude and subsequent success in the sport is a good example for others to follow their dreams.

鈥淚鈥坱hink it鈥檚 a really cool thing for the Yukon,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 from a small community and she loves it. Small towns and wilderness have really shaped her.

鈥淪he was uncomfortable at first with all the attention, but her smile鈥檚 gotten bigger every time she鈥檚 been on the podium.鈥�

The three medals put Moser in excellent company.

Olympic cross-country skier Emily Nishikawa also completed the hat trick at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, where she scored gold, silver and bronze.

鈥淎 big congratulations to Nadia on her performance. That is something to be proud of,鈥濃�圢ishikawa told the Star from Falun, Sweden, where she is preparing for the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

鈥淚鈥檓 so inspired watching the next generation of Yukon athletes compete,鈥� added Nishikawa, 25. 鈥淚鈥坔ope all the athletes on Team鈥圷ukon have been having tons of fun, performing their best and learning lots.鈥�

Following their time at the Canada Winter Games, Moser and Peters will lead a seven-member team from the Yukon into the national championships in Hinton, Alta., next month.

Joining them will be junior boys Liam Adel, Jake Draper, Daniel Sennett, Frances Reid and Bruce Wilson.

At press time, Quebec continued to lead the medal standings with a total of 46, followed by Ontario (30) and Alberta (27).

The Yukon is tied with New Brunswick for seventh, with three medals apiece.