Goodwill Games

For Release: Sunday, February 20, 2000

U.S. MEN SWEEP AERIALS; PETZOLD TAKES BRONZE

LAKE PLACID, NY (Feb. 19) -- Eric Bergoust (Park City, UT) added yet another gold medal to his growing collection, leading a 1-2-3 U.S. sweep of men's aerials at the Winter Goodwill Games Sat. night in Lake Placid. Meanwhile, Brenda Petzold (Andover, MA) took the women's bronze behind winner Veronica Brenner of Canada.

Bergoust won with a 247.86 score, three points ahead of teammate Britt Swartley (Blue Bell, PA). Joe Pack (Park City) won the bronze.

In typical Bergoust fashion, he stepped up to a more difficult second jump -- a quadruple-twisting, triple somersault, with a very challenging two twists on the first flip.

It was the third straight major championship won by Bergoust, who took the Olympic gold in 1998, the World Championship gold in 1999, and now the inaugural Winter Goodwill Games gold.

"I haven't won an event since the World Championships (last March in Switzerland), so this is especially nice," said Bergoust. "One win this year, and this was the one to win. That's just how I like it!"

Petzold, meanwhile, came from deep in the pack after the first jump to take the bronze. Brenner led both jumps and led silver medalist Nannan Xu of China by 11 points.

"I actually didn't think I would end up on the podium because there were so many good women ahead of me," said Petzold. "And the Chinese -- amazing in the air and all they have to do is land and they're going to be on the podium. But I lucked out -- they didn't land and that was amazing for me."

"In the end, we just continue to strive forward and everyone keeps getting better," said U.S. coach Wayne Hilterbrand. "Any of these guys has the ability to be on the podium every day. They've trained awesome all year. They've been inconsistent this year in competition, but I knew it was just a matter of time and it came at a great time."

The freestyle events will conclude with dual moguls on Sunday at Whiteface Mountain. The aerial team will now head to Piancavallo for a World Cup event next weekend.

Winter Goodwill Games
Sat. Feb. 19
Freestyle Aerials
Lake Placid, NY

Men

Eric Bergoust, Park City, UT, 247.86
Britt Swartley, Blue Bell, PA, 246.43
Joe Pack, Park City, UT, 245.98
Nicolas Fontaine, Canada, 229.60
Steve Omischl, Canada, 223.12

Other U.S. Finishers
11. Brian Currutt, Park City, UT, 189.45

Women

Veronica Brenner, Canada, 182.47
Nannan Xu, China, 171.81
Brenda Petzold, Andover, MA, 163.63
Jacqui Cooper, Australia, 163.49
Evelyne Leu, Switzerland, 160.83

Other U.S. Finishers
6. Kelly Hilliman, Tonawanda, NY154.27
8. Emily Cook, Park City, UT, 144.90
9. Marrissa Berman, Mt. Kisco, NY, 136.16

-Victory Bound!-

CONTACTS:

Scott Flanders

U.S. Ski Team News Bureau

801-557-2813

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