A Morinville martial artist brought home bronze from the Canada Winter Games last weekend.
Although his journey into the sport began as a youngster, 16-year-old Dylan Weiss has been training hard for the national competition for about a year.
"I started with karate because I was interested in self-defense. The more I progressed, I just developed a love," Weiss said. "I've just been giving it my best until I found out fairly recently that I had made the team for the Winter Games."
At the games, there are two events in the karate division. Sparring is closer to a traditional fight, while kata is a stylistic presentation. Weiss was awarded bronze in kata, while finishing 9th in sparring.
Weiss was the first male Alberta athlete to win a medal in karate at the Canada Games.
"I started in the first round with two katas that I had prepared and practiced for a long time," Weiss said. "I'm very lucky to have been blessed with the bronze medal after all those rounds."
As for the next steps, Weiss is looking to compete in more national competitions and eventually work his way onto the international stage.
"Any competition I can get, I would love to compete at."
The Canada Winter Games are taking place in Prince Edward Island until March 5.