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PyeongChang 2018: World-class athletes get their start in northern Maine

The Fort Kent Outdoor Center has been around for 20 years to train biathletes from all over the county and the world.

FORT KENT (NEWS CENTER Maine) – The Fort Kent Outdoor Center has been around for 20 years to train biathletes from all over the county and the world.

First built in 1998, the center was funded largely by the Libra Foundation and built up by the community.

The Libra Foundation has spent millions of dollars on facilities for biathletes and skiing venues across western and northern Maine. The Fort Kent Outdoor Center has been host to countless biathalon competitions worthy of some of the world's best athletes.

Maine's own Russel Currier, a Stokholm native, trained regularly at the center. It was announced that he made the Olympic team this weekend.

“It makes us all proud I think that someone that has worked with our venue, our environment, our people has been able to achieve that,” Carl Theriault said.

Theriault is the president of the Fort Kent Outdoor Center. He has been running the place with volunteers since the very start.

The facility boasts more than 15 miles of groomed trails. Over the years, it has dedicated more time to serving the community by running programs for youth in the area and becoming a destination for recreation.

Theriault, who works with the students regularly, said he instills the importance of having fun at the sport above all else.

“We're very proud of Russel and anyone else who has been here over the years that we can help along,” he said. “That's our goal.”

NEWS CENTER Maine will have coverage on The Fort Kent Outdoor Center all week long highlighting the facility and the people who keep it running.

You can catch all your PyeongChang 2018 coverage only on NEWS CENTER Maine starting February 8th.

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