Representing the province at nationals earlier this year was a big deal for one local athlete, but the chance to represent the country is even bigger.
Representing the province at nationals earlier this year was a big deal for one local athlete, but the chance to represent the country is even bigger.
Alpine skier Larry Green, 34, is set to represent Canada at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea after a successful run at nationals held on home turf in March.
"It's pretty much my childhood dream ever since I was a small child, being a member or trying to be a member of Team Canada," he said. "It's been a roller coaster ride."
Green started alpine skiing competitively with the Special Olympics nine years ago, but has been doing it recreationally since fourth grade.
Despite currently living in Edmonton, Green grew up in St. Albert and said he still has strong ties to the community. His mother, Terry Green, is a St. Albert resident and a teacher assistant at Vincent J. Maloney Catholic Junior High School.
"Sometimes, I'm scared to think about it because I just get so excited I could giggle all day," she said. "I'm in awe of how much he's accomplished and how hard he had to work and the commitment he had to make."
The road to worlds hasn't been a completely smooth ride for Larry. Following last year's provincial games, his father and long-time supporter passed away. Just one month later, word came that Larry was progressing to nationals.
"It was amazing to me that Larry could continue without his dad," Terry said.
He excelled, taking home a pair of gold medals and a bronze medal at the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games held in St. Albert, Strathcona County and Jasper in March.
He placed first in both the slalom and giant slalom in the men's intermediate division, with a third-place finish in the Super G.
"When I was going into nationals, I was going in knowing that I was going to do well," he said. "I was just going in there skiing and not knowing I was going to make worlds, but when I found out, I knew right away that I was achieving my childhood dream."
He will join 14 other athletes – including two peers from Team Alberta – to make up the Team Canada alpine ski team in South Korea.
Larry said he is most looking forward to exploring a new country, skiing a new ski hill and meeting new people.
His mom, too, is looking forward to the games.
"I'll have to save my shekels, but I have to go," she said. "It will be worth it."
Larry has already begun training for the competition by enrolling in a sport development camp at the University of Alberta as well as a training camp in Toronto held earlier this month.
"I have a feeling I'm going to do really well," he said. "I'm not expecting to win. I'm just going there, business as usual, to have fun and yes, win the odd medal or two."
Larry, a former paperboy for the St. Albert Gazette, said his 14 years in the role taught him some vital skills needed for athletic performance.
"I learned a lot as a Gazette paperboy," he said. "What that taught me was endurance, which my dad always had. It also taught me self-discipline."
This year marks Larry's 20th with the Special Olympics, having begun his athletic career in 1992 participating in a range of sports including floor hockey, baseball, soccer and bowling.
A total of 141 athletes will represent Canada at worlds, 11 from Team Alberta.
This is the highest number of Alberta athletes to progress to a world event representing the country.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games kick off January 29 and will run until February 5.
