Peterson given speedy exit

TURIN, Italy – U.S. aerials skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson was sent home from the Turin Olympics after a night of partying ended with him getting into a fight that police had to break up.

A number of U.S. freestyle team members, coaches and officials had gathered socially Thursday night after the men’s aerials finals in their mountain venue of Sauze D’Oulx, some staying out at a dance club until early Friday morning.

Tom Kelly, communications director for the U.S. Ski Team, said Peterson and friend Mason Fuller, an American who is not affiliated with the team, were seen fighting at a bus stop at around 9 a.m.

Kelly said he had been told Peterson appeared to be drunk, but he could not verify it first hand. He said police officers recognized the dustup as a scuffle between friends and did not arrest them or press charges.

However, the public loss of control was enough to get Peterson banned from further participation with the U.S. team in Olympic activities, Kelly said.

“There’s a variety of actions that could have been taken,” Kelly told the Associated Press. “It’s significant being asked to leave the Olympic Village. Given the circumstances, it’s an acceptable action by the USOC and we concur with it – and in our discussions with Speedy, he concurs as well.”

U.S. Olympic official Jim McCarthy said Peterson’s actions were irresponsible and could not be tolerated.

“Like every athlete, Jeret had an opportunity to represent himself, his sport and his country in a positive manner,” McCarthy said. “He chose to do otherwise, and because of his unacceptable actions, his Olympic experience is ending early.”

Efforts to reach Peterson early today were unsuccessful.

Peterson, 24, came to Turin as the United States’ best threat to capture a medal in aerials. But his Olympics competition ended in disappointment when he made a minor mistake on the landing of his trademark jump, the “Hurricane,” in which he flies 50 feet above the ramp, packing five twists inside three somersaults. It’s the toughest trick to pull off in aerials.

Peterson has taken a recent liking to skydiving and is one of 12 U.S. Olympians who are candidates to join Donald Trump on “The Apprentice” in the fall. But his biggest off-the-mountain adrenaline rush probably came last year when he won about a half-million dollars playing blackjack in Las Vegas and bought himself a house.