Derek
D. Parra of Orlando, Florida – Mr. Parra is the
first Mexican-American to compete and medal in the Olympic
Winter Games, winning two medals in speed skating at
the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah:
a Silver medal in the 5,000m and a Gold medal in the
1,500m. A former inline skater, Mr. Parra won three
national titles, two world championships and eighteen
gold medals during his career in that sport before replacing
his inline skates with ice skates to follow his dream
of competing in the Olympics. In addition to his Olympic
medals, Mr. Parra was also the 2001 U.S. national champion,
2001 North American champion, 2000 U.S. allround overall
champion and Silver medalist in the 1500m at the 2001
World Single Distance Championships. When he's not on
the ice, Mr. Parra works at Home Depot where he is part
of the United States Olympic Committee's Olympic Job
Opportunities Program.
Derek
D. Parra of Orlando, Florida – Mr. Parra is the
first Mexican-American to compete and medal in the Olympic
Winter Games, winning two medals in speed skating at
the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah:
a Silver medal in the 5,000m and a Gold medal in the
1,500m. A former inline skater, Mr. Parra won three
national titles, two world championships and eighteen
gold medals during his career in that sport before replacing
his inline skates with ice skates to follow his dream
of competing in the Olympics. In addition to his Olympic
medals, Mr. Parra was also the 2001 U.S. national champion,
2001 North American champion, 2000 U.S. allround overall
champion and Silver medalist in the 1500m at the 2001
World Single Distance Championships. When he's not on
the ice, Mr. Parra works at Home Depot where he is part
of the United States Olympic Committee's Olympic Job
Opportunities Program.