( CNN ) -- Freestyle skier Jeret `` Speedy '' Peterson , who won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Games , died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound , police in Utah said . The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake responded to a 911 call from Peterson , 29 , on Monday night , said Lt. Justin Hoyal . Peterson told police he was going to take his life and said he was in Lambs Canyon , off Interstate 80 between Salt Lake City and Park City , Hoyal told CNN . Officers found him deceased there at about 9:30 p.m. ( 11:30 p.m . ET ) , he said . CNN affiliate KSL-TV in Salt Lake City reported Peterson also left a suicide note in his car . In 2010 , Peterson told an CNN iReporter in Vancouver , Canada , the cheers he received when receiving the silver medal in men 's aerials `` was one of the coolest feelings in the world . '' He had competed in two previous Winter Games . According to a biography on the United States Ski and Snowboard Association website , Peterson picked up the nickname `` Speedy '' at a summer ski camp in Lake Placid , New York , in the mid-1990s because coaches thought he resembled the cartoon character `` Speed Racer '' with a big helmet . He won the 1999 U.S . Junior Championship and took bronze at two straight World Junior Championships in 2000 and 2001 . But Peterson also knew struggles , both in skiing and in his personal life . His signature jump was called the `` Hurricane , '' which he failed to land in Torino , Italy , during the 2006 Winter Games , dropping him from third to seventh . The next day , Peterson was sent home after a post-party fight , according to the biography . His sister was killed by a drunk driver in 1987 , and a close friend committed suicide in 2005 in front of Peterson , shooting himself in the head as Peterson was walking in the door , Sports Illustrated reported in a 2005 article . As a child growing up in Idaho , Peterson was sexually abused by someone he would not name , Sports Illustrated said . In 2002 , the magazine wrote , he spoke about the experience at a fundraiser for an organization aimed at child abuse prevention , telling a young audience , `` If you think you deserved it , I promise it was n't your fault . I know because I 've lived that feeling for a long time . '' Sports Illustrated in 2005 : Peterson 's inner demons . Peterson was arrested in Hailey , Idaho , early Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol , CNN affiliate KTVB in Boise , Idaho , reported . Hailey police told KTVB that Peterson was driving more than 70 mph in a 25-mph zone , and failed a field sobriety test . He was booked into jail and posted bail a few hours later , the station reported . Members of the U.S. Olympic Committee mourned Peterson 's passing . `` I know Speedy 's friends and family were incredibly proud of his effort in Vancouver , and his achievements were an inspiration to people all over the world , '' said committee chief executive Scott Blackmun . `` The personal challenges Speedy has battled are familiar to all of us , and on behalf of the U.S. Olympic Committee , I 'd like to offer my sympathy to Speedy 's family and friends . Today is a sad day . '' CNN 's Anna Rhett Miller contributed to this report .
' ` ` . '' Peterson won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics . He left a suicide note in his car , according to CNN and CNN - TV . Report : Peterson was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Friday .