Jeret Peterson
Encyclopedia
Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was an American World Cup aerial skier
from Boise
, Idaho
, skiing out of Bogus Basin
. A three-time Olympian, he won the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
. Peterson was found dead in Lambs Canyon, Utah on July 25, 2011. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A member of three Olympic teams, he participated in the 2002 Games
in Salt Lake (placing 9th) and the 2006 Games
in Turin
, Italy
. In the finals of the 2006 aerial competitions, Peterson was in third place after the first round, but fell to seventh place after the second jump, when he failed to solidly land the difficult "Hurricane" maneuver, which involves five spins and three somersaults.
The following day February 24, 2006, he was dispatched from the Games after a drunken altercation during a post-competition celebration. U.S. Olympic official Jim McCarthy said, "This type of conduct is irresponsible and will not be tolerated. Like every athlete, Jeret had an opportunity to represent himself, his sport, and his country in a positive manner. He chose to do otherwise, and because of his unacceptable actions, his Olympic experience is ending early."
A month after the Olympics in Italy, Peterson won the 2006 U.S. National Championships at Killington
, Vermont
.
He was an alumnus of Timberline High School
in Boise
, and was one of the six athletes featured on the Week 6 episode of The Biggest Loser: Couples 3
.
After a tumultuous four years on and off the snow following the 2006 Olympics, Peterson made a career comeback and in January 2010 was named to the U.S. Olympic freestyle team for the 2010 Winter Olympics
. Entering the Olympic finals
in fifth place, he successfully landed his signature "Hurricane" maneuver (5 twists, 3 flips) to win the silver medal.
A few days after Peterson's death, Utah law enforcement released a recording of the 911 call that Peterson made just before he committed suicide. In it Peterson told the dispatcher that he was going to kill himself and that he wanted the police to come and get his body.
Freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style...
from Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, skiing out of Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a ski area located in southwest Idaho in Boise County, 16 miles north-northeast of the city of Boise....
. A three-time Olympian, he won the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's aerials
The men's aerials event in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada took place on 22 February for the qualification round. The final was held on 25 February...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Peterson was found dead in Lambs Canyon, Utah on July 25, 2011. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Athletic career
Through the 2006 season, Peterson had won four World Cup events in aerials, and a total of nine World Cup podiums. His best season was 2005, with three World Cup wins and three seconds. With the help of these six strong placings, he took the 2005 World Cup season title in aerials. He finished in sixth place for the 2006 season.A member of three Olympic teams, he participated in the 2002 Games
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake (placing 9th) and the 2006 Games
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In the finals of the 2006 aerial competitions, Peterson was in third place after the first round, but fell to seventh place after the second jump, when he failed to solidly land the difficult "Hurricane" maneuver, which involves five spins and three somersaults.
The following day February 24, 2006, he was dispatched from the Games after a drunken altercation during a post-competition celebration. U.S. Olympic official Jim McCarthy said, "This type of conduct is irresponsible and will not be tolerated. Like every athlete, Jeret had an opportunity to represent himself, his sport, and his country in a positive manner. He chose to do otherwise, and because of his unacceptable actions, his Olympic experience is ending early."
A month after the Olympics in Italy, Peterson won the 2006 U.S. National Championships at Killington
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
He was an alumnus of Timberline High School
Timberline High School (Boise, Idaho)
Timberline High School is a three-year public secondary school in Boise, Idaho. Opened in August 1998, it is the fourth and newest public high school in the city, serving the southeast portion of the Boise School District....
in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, and was one of the six athletes featured on the Week 6 episode of The Biggest Loser: Couples 3
The Biggest Loser: Couples 3
The Biggest Loser: Couples 3 is the ninth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Michael Ventrella, the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost. It first aired January 5, 2010...
.
After a tumultuous four years on and off the snow following the 2006 Olympics, Peterson made a career comeback and in January 2010 was named to the U.S. Olympic freestyle team for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. Entering the Olympic finals
Freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's aerials
The men's aerials event in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada took place on 22 February for the qualification round. The final was held on 25 February...
in fifth place, he successfully landed his signature "Hurricane" maneuver (5 twists, 3 flips) to win the silver medal.
Death
On July 25, 2011, Peterson was found dead in Lambs Canyon, Utah. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Three days previously, Peterson had been arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was still reeling from the suicide of a friend named Trevor Fernald, who had committed suicide in front of Peterson in 2005. Peterson also had problems with alcohol and depression and admitted he had his own thoughts of suicide—all stemming from a childhood in which he was sexually abused and at the age of 5-years-old he lost one of his older sisters to a drunk driver.A few days after Peterson's death, Utah law enforcement released a recording of the 911 call that Peterson made just before he committed suicide. In it Peterson told the dispatcher that he was going to kill himself and that he wanted the police to come and get his body.
Results
- 1999 U.S. Junior National Championships – Gold – Aerials
- 2000 World Junior Championships – Bronze – Aerials
- 2001 World Junior Championships – Bronze – Aerials
- 2001 Junior Freestyle Skier of the Year – by Ski Racing magazine
- 2002 Olympic Winter Games – 9th place – Aerials
- 2002 World Cup season – 22nd place – Aerials
- 2003 World Championships – 6th place – Aerials
- 2003 World Cup season – 8th place – Aerials
- 2004 World Cup season – 16th place – Aerials
- 2005 World Championships – 12th place – Aerials
- 2005 World Cup season – 1st place – Aerials
- 2006 Olympic Winter GamesFreestyle skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's aerialsThe Men's aerials event in freestyle skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy began on February 20 and concluded on February 23 at Sauze d'Oulx.-Qualification:...
– 7th place – Aerials - 2006 World Cup season – 6th place – Aerials
- 2006 U.S. National Championships – GOLD – Aerials
- 2010 Olympic Winter GamesFreestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's aerialsThe men's aerials event in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada took place on 22 February for the qualification round. The final was held on 25 February...
– SILVER – Aerials
External links
- Men's Journal.com - The Rebirth of Jeret Peterson, Aimee Berg - Feb 2010
- http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/07/26/1740058/idaho-olympian-jeret-peterson.html - Olympic skier Jeret Peterson found dead near Salt Lake City Monday night