 "Photo: N/A")
When Eric Bernotas graduated from West Virginia University in 1994, reaching his dream of participating in the Olympics seemed impossible to attain.
During his first four years of college, he struggled with depression and alcoholism, saying it was a product of being on his own for the first time in his life and not knowing what he wanted to do in the future.
Fifteen years later, the Avondale, Pa., native is preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada – the second Olympic games of his career.
"I decided that I was wasting my potential, and I needed to do what would improve the quality of my life," he said. "I started working in the (WVU) library and did my own thing for while. That set me off to rediscover new paths."
Those paths included mountain biking, lifting weights, running track and even studying sport psychology.
It wasn’t enough.
In 2001, Bernotas and a friend were on a road trip through upstate New York when a wrong turn led them to Lake Placid – home of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
The two decided to visit what remained of the former Olympic site.
It couldn’t have been a better choice as it was there where Bernotas discovered skeleton – a fast sport where riders slide face down on a frozen track.
"I didn’t even know what skeleton was," Bernotas said. "When skeleton came along, I had been training for that for eight years without even realizing what I had been training for. I thought I could make a go at that."
He started competing at different events and quickly realized he had potential to do something with his talents.
"It just fell into my lap," he said.
Just two years after being introduced to the sport, Bernotas finished first at the 2003-04 National Championships, setting a new course record.
After just a few years and a handful of championship events around the world, Bernotas found himself on the 2006 Olympic team as a medal hopeful in skeleton.
"It was always a dream of mine to compete in the Olympics at some sport," he said. "Each day was a step in the right direction, and that was the biggest thing I can look back on. It was more the direction I was going than where I was going to end up.
"I just so happened where I ended up is where I wanted to be."
Just after Bernotas thought he had a found a place in his life that was free of challenges, he experienced another bump in the road when he finished sixth at the 2006 games.
"It just wasn’t meant be," Bernotas said. "I felt like no one could beat me, and I just had a bad race. It happens."
It was the challenges that kept Bernotas trying for another chance at his dream.
"It wouldn’t be worth it if it came easy," Bernotas said. "The challenges make me stronger."
Bernotas fought back to earn a spot on this year’s Olympic team, and, hopefully he said, earn the medal that fell through his hands four years ago.
The skeleton portion of the Olympics will take place Feb. 18 at 9:30 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 9:20 p.m.
"It’s pretty crazy how life can change so fast. We never know what’s lurking around the corner," Bernotas said. "If I could take a picture of the whole season, it seems to be a steady climb – I hope that climb continues."
4 comments