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Shelley Osterloh ReportingJennifer Rodriguez is the top American Female speedskater. In 2002, she was the first woman in US history to earn a spot the Olympic team in all five events. She won two Bronze medals in Salt Lake, but she's ready for gold.
Jen Rodriguez, Speedskater: "I think if I would have won the gold medal, I would have retired. I would have accomplished my goals. There's nothing more that I want than the gold medal."
Jennifer Rodriguez and her husband and teammate, KC Boutiette, have lived in Summit county for six years. Jen is now competing in her third Olympic Games, KC in his fourth. She says the goal of winning a gold medal has kept her motivated.
Jen Rodriguez, Speedskater: "I am getting older, I start to think about other things in my life, other directions I want to go. And so it definitely is another reason that I kept skating that I didn't get the gold medal."
She says winning her two bronze medals in 2002 and skating in the Olympics was wonderful, but she knows she can do better.
Jen Rodriguez, Speedskater: "But when I look back, I am disappointed I didn't skate the races I wanted to skate there. But hopefully I take that in and I can fix it for the next time around."
And she has worked hard, but that, she says, is in her upbringing. Her father is Cuban, her mother, American.
Jen Rodriguez, Speedskater: "I know that my father, when he came over to this country, he had to fight for everything thing he had. He didn't know a lick of English, he came with nothing but the clothing on his back. And I know that from my family values, you have work to get what you want."
And though Olympic gold has been the goal, Rodriguez says it is the challenge of speedskating that she keeps her going day after day.
Jen Rodriguez, Speedskater: "It's so technically challenging, physically challenging mentally challenging, it's a very tough sport. And when you skate well, everything comes together, there's not a better feeling in the world. It's like finally it's all paid off."
And she hopes that pay off is a gold medal in Torino.
