Miami, Florida: home to hot weather, beaches, fun in the sun, and Jen
Rodriguez.
As a native of the city, the number one question she is always asked is,
"How does a girl from Miami get into speedskating?"
At age 3, Jen attended a birthday party at the local roller skating
rink. This was at the height of the sport's popularity. Jen was instantly
hooked and began taking lessons in both figure and speed skating. She
grew up competing in both facets of the sport, spending all of her free
time at the skating rink. Her hard work and natural athletic ability
paid off, and Jen won the World Championships in 1996.
Jen had reached the pinnacle of the sport. At the urge of fellow skater
and then-boyfriend (now husband), KC Boutiette, Jennifer made the attempt
to transcend into ice skating. 18 months later, Jen was competing in her
first Olympics at the 1998 Games in Nagano as a member of the US Team in
four different races.
She continued to grow and gain recognition in the sport and won both
the US and North American Championships in 1999-00 and 2000-01. In the
fall of 2001 she won her first World Cup Medal (silver) and then shocked
the speedskating world yet again by winning a gold medal in the 1000
meter event at the World Cup competition in Salt Lake City. Thereafter
the World Cup medals began to flow.
In the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Jen became the first American woman
to earn a spot on the Olympic Team in all five events. The 2002 Olympic
games proved to be twice as nice. She took home the bronze medal in
both the 1000 meters and the 1500 meters races! And it didn't end
there. She went back to Europe to finish the world cup season, hauling
in medal after medal after medal...before ending the season with a
remarkable tally of twelve (12) trips to the podium!
In the 2002-2003 speedskating season Jen unbelievably raised the bar yet
again, this time earning 14 individual international medals, 5 of which
were gold. Seemingly at the top of her game, Jen turned heads again
during the 2003-2004 season, tallying an astonishing 19 international
medals, this season taking in 10 gold medals. 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. Her accomplishment twice earned her USOC Athlete
of the Month honors and left her third in the overall voting for the
USOC Athlete of the Year.
The 2004-2005 speedskating season saw more great achievements
and potential. Jen earned fourteen more medals, set two new track
records, was twice named USA Today's 'Athlete of the Week' and became
World Champion. She currently holds five different American Records and
four track records.
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Jennifer Rodriguez
Born: Jan. 19, 1974, Miami, FL
Height: 5'4 1/2"
Weight: 128 lbs.
Resides in Miami, FL
Highlights:
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1998 and 2002 Olympian |
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1000-meter bronze medallist at 2002 Olympic Winter Games |
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1500-meter bronze medallist at 2002 Olympic Winter Games |
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1st, overall 2003-04 1000m World Cup Rankings |
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2nd, overall 2003-04 1500m World Cup Rankings |
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3rd, overall 2004 World Allround Championships (1st, 500m; 1st, 1500m) |
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3rd, overall 2004 World Sprint Championships |
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5th, overall 2003 World Sprint Championships |
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4th, overall 2002 World Allround Championships (1st, 500m; 3rd, 1500m) |
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1st, overall 2000 U.S. Allround Championships |
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4th, 3000m 1998 Olympics |
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