KC Boutiette

KC Boutiette was a pioneer among American speed skaters as the first to make the transition from inline skating to the ice, paving the way for future stars such as Jennifer Rodriguez (Boutiette’s ex-wife), Derek Parra, Joey Cheek, Apolo Anton Ohno and Chad Hedrick. Boutiette competed at four Winter Olympics, primarily as a distance skater. He never won an Olympic medal, but earned five diplomas from finishing in the top eight. He set two world records at the Calgary oval, with 1:50.09 for 1,500 metres in 1997, and 154.103 for the small combination that same year.

Boutiette was a three-time US all-around champion (1994, 1996-97). He won two silver medals at the World Championships, in the 500 in 1998, and the 1,500 in 1997. KC had a very long, high-level career, appearing at every World All-Around from 1994-2006, save 2002. In 2016 he came back to skate the mass start event and try to make the 2018 US Olympic team, although that effort fell short.

Boutiette turned to marathon skating later in his career, mostly in the Netherlands. He twice finished second in the Six Days of the Greenery in 2003-04. He led the Essent Cup race for two days and, in all, won 23 speed skating marathons during his career.

Personal Bests: 500 – 36.09 (2004); 1000 – 1:09.90 (2004); 1500 – 1:46.78 (2003); 5000 – 6:22.97 (2002); 10000 – 13:21.06 (2004).