Eric Bergoust was one of the most successful American aerialists ever. During his career, he won 15 World Cup events, and was the 2002 overall freestyle World Cup champ, and twice won the World Cup aerials title. In 1999 he added a World Championship in the aerials to his Olympic gold medal, having been runner-up in 1997. At one time he had the world best mark in an aerials run, with 260.98, although it was later bettered. Bergoust originally wanted to be either a stunt man or fighter pilot, but after watching freestyle skiing on ESPN, and knowing that he loved trampolines, he decided to try the sport. He trained that summer in Lake Placid and in 1989 won the NorAm aerials championship. Bergoust’s career was interrupted multiple times by various injuries, including several broken bones, a knee injury in 1993 and a severe back injury in 1995.