Women
USA
Jessica Kooreman
USA- Date of birth14 Oct 1983
- Height152 CM
- ProfessionMotivational Speaker, Real Estate Agent
- HometownSalt Lake City
- Place of birthMelvindale, MI
- Start skatingShe began roller skating races at age two, and switched to the ice full-time in 2008.
- Club Oval FAST Team: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- HobbiesWatching movies, shopping, spending time with friends, playing golf, hiking, cooking. (nbcolympics.com, 20 Oct 2017; Facebook page, 07 Oct 2017)
- LanguagesEnglish
- FamilyHusband Mike
- CoachN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
Placing fourth in the 1000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)
"Go hard or go home." (Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)
US speed skaters Jennifer Rodriguez and Bonnie Blair, US tennis players Venus Williams and Serena Williams. (Athlete, 02 Feb 2017; teamusa.org, Aug 2017; Athlete, 10 Feb 2013)
Her husband, her parents. (nbcolympics.com, 20 Oct 2017; Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)
She tore the quad muscle in her thigh prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. She delayed a decision on whether to have surgery on the injury so she could compete at the Games. (ONS, 04 Feb 2014)
She injured her left shoulder after falling at the 2007 World Inline Skating Championships in Cali, Colombia. She was forced to undergo surgery, which included inserting seven pins and a plate in her shoulder. (inlineplanet.com, 02 Feb 2009)
She injured her left shoulder after falling at the 2007 World Inline Skating Championships in Cali, Colombia. She was forced to undergo surgery, which included inserting seven pins and a plate in her shoulder. (inlineplanet.com, 02 Feb 2009)
RETIREMENT
She retired from the sport after she competed at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang at age 34. "I know that I've been skating 32 years competitively and I haven't taken a season off between inline and ice. I've been on the international circuit since I was 12, so it's time for a rest. I wanted a gold medal at the Olympics but I started late and I gave it everything I had. Could I keep going? Do I feel like I'm burned out? No. I have loved speed skating. I have loved the competitiveness, but I'm ready for a family." She gave birth to her first son Ryker in January 2019, and her second son Lennon in October 2020. (Instagram profile, 09 Oct 2020, 10 Jan 2019; eu.freep.com, 01 Feb 2018)
SKATING COUPLE
Her husband Mike also competed in short track at international level. They met at a World Cup event in Russian Federation and married in 2015. He has worked as the programme leader for the US speed skating team. (nbc4i.com, 03 Oct 2017)
She retired from the sport after she competed at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang at age 34. "I know that I've been skating 32 years competitively and I haven't taken a season off between inline and ice. I've been on the international circuit since I was 12, so it's time for a rest. I wanted a gold medal at the Olympics but I started late and I gave it everything I had. Could I keep going? Do I feel like I'm burned out? No. I have loved speed skating. I have loved the competitiveness, but I'm ready for a family." She gave birth to her first son Ryker in January 2019, and her second son Lennon in October 2020. (Instagram profile, 09 Oct 2020, 10 Jan 2019; eu.freep.com, 01 Feb 2018)
SKATING COUPLE
Her husband Mike also competed in short track at international level. They met at a World Cup event in Russian Federation and married in 2015. He has worked as the programme leader for the US speed skating team. (nbc4i.com, 03 Oct 2017)
She is an eight-time inline skating world champion, winning gold over a number of distances between 1999 and 2006. She has also represented the United States of America in speed skating at World Cup events. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Oct 2015; inlineplanet.com, 02 Feb 2009)
Her parents skated when they were younger and encouraged her to try inline skating. She switched to the ice because she wanted to compete at the Olympic Winter Games. She initially tried speed skating, but did not like the time trials so switched to short track.
