Jennifer Rodriguez was born in Miami (Florida) as the daughter of a Cuban immigrant father and an American mother. Initially, she was a successful roller skater. In 1992 and 1993, she won a total of 9 medals at World Championships in both speed and figure roller skating, including three titles at the 1993 World Championships. She also won a silver medal in figure roller skating at the 1995 Pan-American Games in Argentina. He boyfriend KC Boutiette, also a roller skater, insisted on her trying out skating on ice, which she did in late 1996.

She immediately placed fourth at the US Allround Championships, and the following season, she qualified for the Olympics for no less than four distances. In her first appearance - as the first Hispanic-American at the Winter Olympics - she immediately broke the 10-year-old Olympic Record, which eventually meant a 4th place. A fifth place at the World Allround Championships completed her breakthrough in speed skating on ice.

Although the best female allrounder from North America, Rodriguez couldn't follow up her results with medals in international championships for the next few season. She gradually developed to a top skater in the 1000 and 1500 m, winning her first World Cup (1000 m) in late 2001. She proved this status at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, winning bronze medals in both these distances. She ended out the season with her best place in the World Allround Championships, fourth. After the season, she married KC Boutiette on 13 April 2002.

In the 2003 season, she showed her possibilities as a sprinter as well, finishing fifth in both the World Allround and Sprint Championships. In addition, she won two medals at the World Single Distance Championships, winning the silver in the 1000 m and the bronze in the 1500 m.

By Jeroen Heijmans, last updated November 28, 2005