USA'S Eric Bergoust, of Missoula, Mont., reacts after performing his jump during the men's freestyle aerials at the XVIII Winter Olympics in Iizuna Kogen, in Nagano, Japan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998. Bergoust won the gold.ASSOCIATED PRESS

Freestyle skiers strike gold

Web posted February 19, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Morris News Service

NAGANO -- U.S. freestyle skiers struck double gold Wednesday, winning both men's and women's aerials.

"I ski for fun,'' said men's winner Eric Bergoust. "I did not compete for fun here today. I was in shock that I could jump that well after having my worst crash in two years.''

Just before the competition, during training runs, Bergoust missed his landing and crashed.

"I landed right on my chest,'' he said. "That was one of my last training jumps before the competition today. When I was rolling down the hill I wasn't sure I'd even be able to jump. There is something wrong. My ribs are not cracked, but it's pretty sore.''

Bergoust put together strong jumps to beat a strong field that had very few falls. His final score was a world record. Britt Swartley of the U.S. was fifth.

Sebastian Foucras of France was second and Dimitri Dashchinsky of Russia was third.

With her gold medal Stone proved wrong the doctors who said she would never jump again following a serious injury in 1996.

"It feels so amazing,'' she said. "I had doctors telling me I would never even jump again, and coming out here and winning a gold medal, I proved you all wrong.

"I can't even believe it. A gold medal has been my dreams. It's everything I've ever wanted in life. I just can't believe it. It just seemed so impossible. My parents are here and my boyfriend. I'm so excited to share it with them.''

China's Xu Nannan took the silver medal and Switzerland's Colette Brand the bronze.

The two medals put the United States total at eight for the Winter Olympics.