Tragic News as Olympic Ski Silver Medal Winner Commits Suicide
Olympic silver medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson was found dead at the age of 29 in what police are calling a suicide.
Peterson a freestyle skier who is best known for winning a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and his signature move the “Hurricane”, called 911 Monday and told police he was going to take his own life.
Jeret Peterson was a three-time Olympian from Boise Idaho. He got his nickname “Speedy” because of the big helmet he wore that made him look like the cartoon character Speed Racer. After successfully landing his signature move the “Hurricane” he won a silver medal in the 2010 Olympics.
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Peterson experienced a rough childhood, a drunk driver killed his 5-year-old sister and in 2002 Sports Illustrated magazine wrote that Peterson was sexually abused as a child and he later spoke about his experience at a fundraiser aimed at child abuse prevention.
He told the young audience, “If you think you deserved it, I promise it wasn’t your fault. I know because I’ve lived that feeling for a long time.”
Peterson battled problems with alcohol and depression and admitted to having thoughts of suicide, stemming from his rough childhood.
Three days before Peterson’s death he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
A few months before being arrested whilst he was in Italy Peterson found the body of his friend Trevor Fernald after he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Officers found Peterson’s body late Monday evening after he dialed 911 and told police he was going to take his own life and that he was in Lambs Canyon, between Salt Lake City and Park City. Utah Police say the cause of his death was from a self inflicted gunshot wound. There was a suicide note found near Peterson’s car but officers declined to reveal what it said.
The U.S. Olympic Committee mourned Peterson’s death, chief executive Scott Blackmun said, "I know Speedy's friends and family were incredibly proud of his effort in Vancouver, and his achievements were an inspiration to people all over the world."
In a statement issued on Tuesday Bill Marolt, the CEO of the U.S. Ski team said, “Jeret 'Speedy' Peterson was a great champion who will be missed and remembered as a positive, innovative force on not only his sport of freestyle aerials, but on the entire U.S. Freestyle Ski Team family and everyone he touched."
