Team NWT has its first medal of the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Yellowknife’s Brent Betsina has won silver in the boys’ individual over-100kg judo.
He was defeated by Quebec’s Kevin Gauthier in the final on Thursday evening in Prince George.
“It feels awesome,” Betsina told Moose FM. “I didn’t even care if I won gold, silver or bronze. I just wanted to fight because this was my last time doing competition. I’m retiring from judo.
“I just wanted to go out on a big boom and I did.”
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Betsina, who stands 5ft 8in tall and weighs 250 pounds, beat competitors from Newfoundland and Manitoba to secure a spot in the final bout.
The 18-year-old was the only athlete to represent the NWT in judo.
“A lot of hours, a lot of sweat and broken bones went into this. Even a couple days ago my jaw popped out and I had to pop it back in and I still competed even though I had a popped-out jaw.
“It still hurts but as my sensei says ‘no pain no gain’ so I used that to help me.”
The territory hadn’t won a medal since Brendan Green won gold in cross-country skiing during the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.
View: Medal Standings
Brent Betsina wins silver! Our 1st medal since Brendan Green's gold in 2007. Great work Brent! #2015CanGames #GoNTGo pic.twitter.com/ZJyBfwWscb
— TeamNT (@GoTeam_NT) February 27, 2015
Brent getting his silver medal! #NWTJudo #2015CanGames #GoNTGo pic.twitter.com/ztPmJzDoBV
— TeamNT (@GoTeam_NT) February 27, 2015
SNF President with medal winners Annah Hanthorn and Brent Betsina! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/VN6ffwy50j
— Sport North (@SportNorth) February 27, 2015
