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Eric Bernotas
- Finished sixth in the overall World Cup standing his first year on the circuit (2005)
- Tied for eighth with teammate Chris Soule at the 2005 World Championships
- Three-time U.S. National champion (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Finished in the top-10 in six of seven World Cup races his first year on the circuit, wining gold at Lake Placid and taking home a silver at St. Moritz
- Holds the track record at Lake Placid
- “‘If you work hard enough, you can make it to the Olympics,’” Bernotas said his grandmother always told him on his “My Story” film
- Helped U.S. bobsled driver Mike Kohn gain needed points for next season’s World Cup circuit by riding in Kohn’s sled along with fellow skeleton athlete Chris Hedquist at a 2004 Europa Cup event – “Those guys really helped me out,” said Kohn
- “For someone who’s as driven, who’s able to transform himself as a slider … there are a few people who have done it, and it’s not easy to do,” said teammate Chris Soule to the Colorado Springs Gazette about Bernotas
- Battled depression, alcoholism and Tourettes Syndrome through out his life and has overcome each hurdle – “I decided to train to live,” he said about overcoming his obstacles
- Enjoys being active, skiing, surfing, golfing
Bernotas didn’t discover skeleton until he took a road trip with his girlfriend. Taking a wrong turn, the two of them ended up at a skeleton demonstration near in Lake Placid. Urged on by his girlfriend, 30-year-old Bernotas signed-up for a chance to slide on a ‘cookie sheet with runners’ contraption. “I had a feeling this was something I needed to do, and she pushed me to do it,” Bernotas said to washingtonpost.com. “After my first run, I was terrified. But I found the courage to go down for my second run and I was hooked.”
Related Links
Feature: Top 25 hopefuls to follow to Torino
On using your given abilities: "I haven’t always dreamed of skeleton, but I have always dreamed and desired to pursue excellence in life,” Bernotas said on www.qsports.net. “The challenges of life taught me to persevere by using my talent, strengthening my character, remaining open, embracing new opportunities, and praying for the courage to follow through with action.”
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Height: 5’ 11”
Born: 8/5/1971
Hometown: West Chester, Penn.
Resides: Arondale, Penn.
Sport: Skeleton
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