If Eric Bergoust was an only child, he likely never would have won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in freestyle skiing.
"If it wasn't for my older brother, Todd, I probably never would have started skiing," Bergoust said.
And after his discouraging inaugural ski run, he likely wouldn't have stayed with it, either.
"My first time was pretty miserable," he said during a speech Wednesday at East High School, recalling wearing Levis as a 13-year-old on the slopes. "I spent most of the day falling down . . . and by the end of the day it was like wearing frozen cardboard pants. I vowed I'd never go again."
But big brother talked him into trying again.
"He said just because you fail at something the first time, doesn't mean you can't be successful," Bergoust said.
The world's top-aerialist said his brother's influence, encouragement and help came all throughout the beginning of his career.
Bergoust was at East High to kick off a national essay contest on mentors. He was chosen to represent the Samsung-sponsored program because he's spoken openly and often about the men who mentored him in his life, calling their contributions critical to his success.
The "Spirit of Sport" contest asks entrants to write a 100-word essay about a person who motivated and helped them to participate in sports.
A panel that includes Bergoust and gold-medal speedskater Bonnie Blair will pick five winners. Those five and the mentors they cite will receive free trips February to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
With the contest open to all U.S. residents age 13 and older, entries will be accepted until Nov. 26 and can be submitted electronically at www.samsungelectronics.com/sports.
"Even if you don't think you'll win, take the time to write this essay," Bergoust said. "It's an opportunity to thank your sports mentors by giving them a copy."
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com