Jennifer Rodriguez
Speedskating
1998 Olympian
2002 Olympic medalist (2 bronze)
2006 Olympian
2010 Olympic hopeful
Personal Specs
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 121 lbs
School: Palmetto Senior High
Coach: Ryan Shimabukuro, Mike Kooreman
Short List Performance
- 1998 Olympic Winter Games - fourth (3000m), eighth (1500m), 10th (5000m)
- 2002 Olympic Winter Games - bronze (1000m, 1500m), seventh (3000m)
- 2006 Olympic Winter Games - eighth (1500m), 10th (1000m), 11th (500m)
Vancouver Watch
Rodriguez came out of retirement in late 2008 after calling it quits following the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. She will be 33 when the 2010 Olympic Winter Games come around, but the veteran may still be the top medal threat among American female speedskaters. Her best shot at getting a third Olympic medal will be in the sprint events, the 500m, the 1000m and possibly the 1500m.
Personal
A former inline skater -- like so many of her younger peers -- Rodriguez was introduced to the ice by former husband and Olympic speedskater K.C. Boutiette. She had been skating on pavement since age 4 when she was invited to a birthday party at a Miami roller skating rink. Years later, she won the inline skating World Championships in 1993 before switching from wheels to blades. She retired after the 2006 Olympic Winter Games but was inspired to come back while visiting a short track speedskating rink in South Florida in 2008. She said she immediately started crying when she got to the rink because she missed the sport so much. Her wide-ranging hobbies include snowboarding, jet skiing and WWII research. Rodriguez is the first Cuban-American to win an Olympic Winter Games medal.
Did You Know...?
- Nicknamed "Miami Ice" and "J-Rod"
- Interned for NBC before coming out of competitive retirement
- Co-owns a cycling and fitness shop with Boutiette in Miami
- Considered qualification attempt for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in cycling before reverting to speedskating
- An avid fan of all Miami sports teams
Rodriguez, is the first Latina speedskating champion and is currently the World Sprint Champion. Rodriguez made a dramatic and delightful entrance into the world of speed skating from inline skating at the urging of her then-boyfriend KC Boutiette in 1996.
In less than 18 months, she made the remarkable transition to ice to a fourth place finish at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. By 2000, she was already considered the best distance skater in the U.S., so she shifted her focus to contending on the world level in the sprint distances.
In the fall of 2001 she won her first World Cup Medal (silver) and then won a gold medal in the 1000 meters event at the World Cup competition in Salt Lake City. At the 2002 US Olympic Trials Jen became the first American woman in history to earn a spot on the Olympic Team in all five events.
In February, at the Winter Olympic Games, Jen left an indelible mark becoming the first Cuban-American to win an Olympic medal. She took the bronze in the 1000 meters and the 1500 meters.
During the 2002-2003 season Rodriguez won 14 individual international medals, 5 of which were gold.
During the 2003-2004 season, tallied 19 international medals, 10 golds. She was the World Allround Champion in the 500-meters, World Cup Champion in the 1000 meters, and won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the World Single Distance Championships.
The 2004-2005 season brought more of the same. Rodriguez captured 14 more medals, and became the World Sprint Champion.
At the 2006 Games, Rodriguez placed 5th in the women's team pursuit, 11th in the 500m, 10th in the 1000m and 8th in the 1500m. She retired after those Games and took a two-year hiatus from the sport.
Rodriguez came out of retirement for the 2008-2009 season to compete for a spot on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team in Vancouver. Coming back strong, she won the 1000m at the World Cup in Nagano, Japan in December 2008. Rodriguez is currently training at the Utah Olympic Oval with the National Long Track Training Team Program.