US Olympic silver medalist skier commits suicide
SALT LAKE CITY: Jeret “Speedy” Peterson Olympic silver medalist skier, has committed suicide near Salt Lake City after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, police said on Tuesday.
Jeret Speedy Peterson
Shortly after he called emergency dispatch to say he was going to kill himself,Peterson 29, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday night said Lieutenant Justin Hoyal, a spokesman for Unified Police of Greater Salt Lake.
At the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.He was a silver medalist in the men’s freestyle aerials competition.
Jeret Speedy Peterson
On a road just outside Salt Lake City, Peterson’s body was found beside his vehicle, Hoyal said. Police said he left a suicide note, but they declined to reveal the contents.
The Olympic athlete was arrested in Idaho on suspicion of misdemeanor drunken driving. He was released from the Blaine County Jail in Idaho after posting $500 bail.
He had been arrested after speeding in a Dodge Dakota pickup through Hailey on Friday, at an estimated 70 miles per hour, which was over the local speed limit of 25 mph, police reported.
He failed three field sobriety tests, including a walk and turn and a one-leg stand. Peterson pleaded not guilty in paperwork filed by his attorney to the charge of driving under the influence and the speeding charge.
Oympic Freestyle Skier Suicide. Courtesy: AP PHOTO
He recently lived in the ski haven of Park City, Utah. He had not planned on competing during the 2012 season. He was a full-time business student at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, as reported by the US Ski and Snowboard Association.
Peterson gained the nickname “Speedy” because coaches thought he resembled the cartoon character “Speed Racer” when wearing his helmet.
He invented his signature jump the “Hurricane,” a five-twist and three-flip jump that landed him the silver medal in Vancouver.
“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,” US Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said in a statement.
“The personal challenges Speedy has battled are familiar to all of us, and on behalf of the US Olympic Committee, I’d like to offer my sympathy to Speedy’s family and friends,” Blackmun said.
In 2006, he was sent home from the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, after a fight, according to the US Ski and Snowboard Association.
In 2006, Peterson pleaded guilty to theft by receiving stolen property, according to Idaho court records.
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