Despite only being introduced to the sport last June, a 12-year-old Airdrie biathlete has already posted a significant result.
Thomas Hulsman captured the silver medal in the Dev. 1 .22-calibre three-kilometre sprint category at the Alberta Biathlon Calforex Cup No. 2 at the Canmore Nordic Centre, Jan. 8.
More than 180 athletes from across Alberta and Saskatchewan competed at the two-day event.
“It meant a lot to me,” Hulsman said. “Getting second place in biathlon, a couple seconds behind the leader, who I really wanted to beat, was an adrenaline rush for me.”
“For him, it’s huge,” said Hulsman’s father Steven. “He trains hard and it was great to see him get a good result.”
Hulsman took an interest in biathlon after watching it on TV during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He began skate skiing (a form of cross-country skiing), then was involved with Nordic combined, which is cross-country skiing and ski jumping, for a year, before switching to biathlon as part of a WinSport Canada program at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park (COP).
“It’s nice to cross-country ski out at Canmore and the shooting is fun as well,” Hulsman said. “I can see myself in biathlon for a lot longer than a couple years.”
“The first draw to him was exercise, then the skiing and the shooting,” Steven said. “All these sports are always looking for grassroots athletes. It’s so accessible.
He’s a 12-year-old kid who figured out what he wants to do. He took an interest in the outdoors and went to COP for Camp Torch and really enjoyed it.”
Hulsman played hockey for four years but decided it wasn’t for him. He made the switch and will compete at the entry-level Dev. 1 for the duration of this season.
He said he already has several other goals in my mind as he continues with the sport.
“(Getting to the Olympics one day) is my big, big goal, but one of my other goals is to get to the Alberta Winter Games,” Hulsman said.
“The big thing for all these kids, especially when you’re new to the sport, is learning the stress of competition,” Steven said. “Your diet, the three nights of training a week at COP, as well as every Sunday (in Canmore).
“When I look at what he’s doing now, that’s a lifelong thing he’ll take with him. He’s got a great recreational sport that’s affordable, and that he can do by himself or with his buddies. It’s perfect for a kid who wants to ski and shoot.”
