On Monday, the competitions started in earnest at this year's Arctic Winter Games, and Team Kalaallit Nunaat fought hard – and it resulted in several medals, especially in stick pull.
Two years ago, Minik Møller Platou won gold in the men's open category in stick pull. Yesterday, the day ended with him regaining the title.
- I had to defend my gold medal, of course, says a proud Minik Møller Platou to Sermitsiaq after the match, which was very close.
Stick pull is a discipline at the Dene Games, where athletes competition to see who can best hold on to a stick that has been smeared with some grease.
- I'm a bit shocked because I didn't think I could beat them again, says Minik Møller Platou, who explains that it was a tough final.
At the Dene Games, it is customary to cheer loudly during the competitions, and Minik Møller Platou says that he greatly appreciates his team's support.
- It's very helpful. It helped me win, he says.
He is impressed by the level of his competitors and believes that the next competitions in the Dene Games will be tough.
- I think they will be even stronger at the next Arctic Winter Games because they will try to win, he says.
Danny Clasen won gold in the U18 men's competition.
Happy debutant wins silver
There were also medals in stick pull in the women's competition. Paninnguaq Qvist won Greenland's first gold medal at these Games, when she competed in the open category for women.
But earlier in the day, the first silver medal was won. Aviana Kristiansen had a difficult start in the women's U18 stick pull, but with an extra chance she managed to get a place in the final.
She fought bravely and won a nice silver medal. Sermitsiaq caught her for a short comment afterwards, where the young athlete was clearly overwhelmed.
When asked what it was like to be in the final, Aviana Kristiansen replied:
- It has been very exciting.
This is Aviana Kristiansen's first AWG, and the debutant will participate in several Dene Games disciplines and is looking forward to it.
- I will do my very best, she says.
Kristine Sigurdsen won bronze in the women's seniors.
Silver for Greenland in the two-foot high kick
While there were loud cheers at the Dene Games, the Arctic Sport hall was quieter. Here, the audience is usually quiet while the competitions are in progress, unless an athlete himself gives a sign that applause should be given during the event.
And there was plenty to applaud for Team Kalallit Nunaat, where they also showed a high level at the Arctic Sport competitions on Monday.
Here the day started with two bronze medals for Petra Amossen and Abia Zeeb in the open category for women and men in triple jump, respectively.
Next came the U17 women's and men's two-foot high kick, where it's about jumping up and hitting a sealskin ball with both feet.
Here, the eyes were on Randi Zeeb Sigurdsen and Inunnguaq Amossen.
Inunnguaq Amossen showed good technique and won a silver medal with 228.6 centimeters.
Randi Zeeb Sigurdsen was in a good position to start with, but left at 177.8 centimeters with obvious back pain – more than ten centimeters from his record of 190.5 centimeters from AWG in 2024. The gold medalist from Yukon hit the ball at 187.9 centimeters and thus failed to break the record, which is why Randi Zeeb Sigurdsen still holds it.
This evening, Inuuteq Josefsen won gold in the head pull in the men's open category.
