Leif Amundson, Andrew Gaule and Doug Tate take advantage of instruction from Olympian Brent Olynyk, who was in Fort Simpson Monday to impart badminton skills and talk about his Olympic experience as a doubles player. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

"This guy is really good. He's fast," said Michael Rowe, one of nearly a dozen Fort Simpson residents who showed up for some tips at the Fort Simpson recreation centre on Monday evening.

"You think he's out of (the play) and all of a sudden he's there in a flash with a better shot than I've ever made in my life."

Rowe and Chris Stipdonk got a double dose of instruction from Olynyk. They were in Yellowknife for a coaching seminar over the weekend and found out Olynyk was offering a badminton clinic. They stayed in Yellowknife an extra day just for the additional four hours of lessons.

Among the skills Rowe said he gleaned were deception at the net (faking out an opponent) and better shot placement.

Olynyk, 30, competed for Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He and his partner lost to a pair from England in the first round in mixed doubles. In men's doubles, the Canadian tandem advanced to the second round, but fell to a team from Denmark.

He and his doubles partners had to be the best in North America and South America just to qualify for the Olympics, he noted. However, Asian and European players dominate the sport, he added.

Having accomplished most of his goals, Olynyk, a Calgary resident, retired as an amateur competitor four months ago. Although he enjoyed travelling the world and competing, Olynyk said, there was no money to be made as an amateur athlete. Sponsorships and funding are inadequate in Canada, he said.

He now devotes his time to coaching and motivational speaking. The NWT Badminton Association brought him north of 60 to give presentations and clinics in Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith and Hay River.

Cathy MacAskill, an avid badminton player who drove to Fort Simpson from Fort Liard, said Olynyk offered valuable insight.

"I think it's great that people like Brent, at his calibre, can come to the North," MacAskill said.