Rodriguez, Jennifer (1976–)
Rodriguez, Jennifer (1976–)
American speedskater and roller skater. Born June 8, 1976, in Miami, FL; dau. of a Cuban father and American mother; m. K.C. Boutiette (speedskater), 2002.
As a roller skater, won 12 World championships, including gold medals for artistic roller skating and speed roller skating, won silver medal at Pan American Games (1995), became 2-time USOC Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports, and inducted into USA Roller Sports Hall of Fame (2002); as a speedskater, placed 4th in the 3,000 meters at Nagano Olympics (1998), thought to be the 1st athlete of Hispanic descent to compete at Winter Games; won overall at US Allround championships (1999–2001); won bronze medals for the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at Salt Lake City Olympics (2002); became American record holder in 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter for ice; as ice skater, became one of few skaters in history to medal at World championships in both figure and speedskating (gold and silver at Rome World Speed championships and silver at Figure Skating World championships, Tampa, FL, both 1995); as inline skater, became 3-time World champion. Named US Roller Skating Athlete of the Year (1991–92).