Jennifer Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Rodriguez (born June 8, 1976 in Miami, FL) is a Cuban-American speed skater
. She started her career as an artistic roller skater
, winning multiple national championships and placing second and third at world championships. Later she switched to inline speed skating
and became world champion in 1993. Her inline speed coach was Bob Manning.
In 1996 she made another career move by giving it a try on ice, in order to have a chance to make the Olympic
Team. This was a success, and she participated in the 1998
, 2002
, 2006
and 2010 Winter Olympics
, winning two bronze medals in Salt Lake City in 2002. She is also known by the nicknames Miami Ice and J-Rod "dame cucita".
She was married to American
speed skater
KC Boutiette
, who was the first to switch from inline speed skating
to ice skating and motivated Rodriguez to do the same.
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
. She started her career as an artistic roller skater
Artistic roller skating
Artistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating but where constestants run on roller skates instead of ice skates. Within artistic roller skating there are several disciplines:* figures...
, winning multiple national championships and placing second and third at world championships. Later she switched to inline speed skating
Inline speed skating
Inline speed skating is the sport of racing on inline skates It is often called inline racing by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is similar enough to ice speed skating that many competitors are now known to switch between inline and...
and became world champion in 1993. Her inline speed coach was Bob Manning.
In 1996 she made another career move by giving it a try on ice, in order to have a chance to make the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Team. This was a success, and she participated in the 1998
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
, 2002
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, 2006
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
and 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, winning two bronze medals in Salt Lake City in 2002. She is also known by the nicknames Miami Ice and J-Rod "dame cucita".
She was married to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
KC Boutiette
KC Boutiette
KC Boutiette is an American speed skater from Tacoma, Washington and four-time Olympian.He was first of the wave of inline speed skaters who made the transition from inline to ice in order to have a shot at going to the Olympics.Among American speed skaters, Boutiette's story is half legendary...
, who was the first to switch from inline speed skating
Inline speed skating
Inline speed skating is the sport of racing on inline skates It is often called inline racing by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is similar enough to ice speed skating that many competitors are now known to switch between inline and...
to ice skating and motivated Rodriguez to do the same.