Going for the Gold: Spotlight on Jennifer Rodriguez

Christie Succop February 20, 2009

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Photo: Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

Jennifer Rodriguez of the USA competes in the Ladies 1000m Division A during the Essent ISU Speed Skating World Cup on December 13, 2008 in Nagano, Japan. Rodriguez won the competition in a time of 1:16.34.

Speed skater Jennifer Rodriguez is slated to make a run for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games after a two-year hiatus following the 2006 Games in Torino.

Despite a disappointing performance in Torino--she finished no higher than eighth in the three individual events she skated in--the 32-year-old is back and ready to take on the speed skating world.

Originally beginning her career as an artistic roller skater, Rodriguez switched to inline speed skating and later moved to the ice in 1996.  She became the first Cuban-American woman to participate in an Olympic Winter Games two years later, competing in the 1000m, 1500m and 5000m events, and placing fourth in the 3000m event in Nagano, Japan.

Rodriguez, also known as "Miami Ice" and "J-Rod," was the first U.S. female to secure a spot on Team USA in all five speed skating events at the 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

In 2002 at her second Games in Salt Lake City, the Miami native skated her way to two bronze medals (1000m and 1500m) and became the first Cuban-American woman to win an Olympic speed skating medal.

In the 2002-2003 season, Rodriguez collected 14 international medals, five of them gold.

The next season she improved by acquiring 19 international medals, 10 of them gold. Rodriguez attained top spots as the World All-Around Champion in the 500m and as the World Cup Champion in the 1000m. At the World Single Distance Championships, she earned both silver and bronze.

In the 2004-2005 season, Rodriguez won 14 international medals and was also named the World Sprint Champion.

Retiring after Torino, Rodriguez realized that she missed the sport and began competing again in 2008.  She came back on top, winning the 1,000 meter event at the World Cup in Nagano Japan on December 13.  It marked the first time an American woman had won a World Cup event since her own win in 2005. 

Rodriguez is no newcomer to the scene--the 2010 Games would mark her fourth consecutive Olympic appearance--but it is likely she will be welcomed back with open arms in Vancouver.

CLICK HERE to read Jennifer Rodriguez' bio.

Tags: 1998, 2002, 2006, Going for the Gold, Jennifer Rodriguez, Vancouver