What do Chad Hedrick, Derek Parra and Jennifer Rodriguez have in common, other than a place on the 2006 U.S. Winter Olympic Speedskating team? They are all former standouts off the ice. Before switching to speed skating, each had earned recognition as an inline skater. Because there is no inline Olympic event, many inline skaters are making the decision to leave the concrete behind and transfer their talents for inline skating to the ice.
And they’re doing quite well. Hedrick may actually tie Eric Heiden’s record of five gold medals when he skates in Turin. Rodriguez is a three-time Olympian. Parra won a gold in Salt Lake City and hopes to repeat in Turin.
