Derek Parra
Olympic Speedskating Champion
First-ever Mexican American Winter Olympian
President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports appointee

athletic accomplishments:
on blades:
  • 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist - 1500 meters - WORLD RECORD 1:43.95
  • 2002 Olympic Silver Medalist - 5000 meters - American Record
  • US National Champion
  • North American Champion
  • US National Team Member - 1996-2002
on wheels:
  • 18 individual World Championship Gold Medals
  • 2 time Overall World Champion
  • Most decorated athlete at a single Pan Am Games, 1995  - 8 medals
  • Most decorated athlete in rollerskating history
  • Inducted into Rollerskating Hall of Fame - Aug. 2002
personal info:
  • Born: March 15, 1970
  • Hometown: San Bernardino, CA - Resides: Orlando Florida  - Trains: Salt Lake City, UT
  • Height: 5'4", Weight: 140 lb.
  • Daughter: Mia Elizabeth - born: 12/14/01
contact info:
Q Sports Marketing
agent: Patrick Quinn
ph: 630-903-0000
email: qsports@yahoo.com
web: www.QSPORTS.net
     
Derek's story...*

     In 1984, at age 14, Derek began roller skating in his hometown of San Bernardino, CA. By 1996 he had become the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport.  On wheels he was a three-time national champion, two-time overall World Champion, two-time World record holder (1500m and 42K) and he earned eighteen individual gold medals.  He was the most decorated athlete at 1995 Pan-Am Games winning 5 gold, 2 silver and a bronze medal.  He had everything but an Olympic Medal.  So in 1996, he switched from inline skates to ice skates to chase after that medal.  Just two years later he earned a spot on the 1998 US Olympic Team.

     In February of 2001 he won a silver medal at the World Single Distance Championships (1500 meters) setting a new American Record and marking himself as "one to watch at the 2002 Olympic Games".  Starting the 2001-2002 season he  picked up just where he left off.  In late November he won a gold medal at the World Cup competition in Den Hague, Netherlands and became one of America's foremost medal contenders heading into the Olympics.  In Salt Lake City he did not disappoint!  In a remarkable 5000 meter performance on opening day of the Games he briefly held the world record en route to a silver medal finish.  That set the stage for a stunning world record finish and Olympic Gold Medal in the 1500 meter event!

* read Derek's detailed life story here: http://www.qsports.net/derekparrastory.html


Derek at celebrity and charity events:
Derek has been honored by theses organizations:
  • President George W. Bush
  • The President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports
  • Academy of Country Music Awards
  • American Latino Media Arts Awards (ALMA)
  • The California Senate
  • California Angels - home opener
  • Cedars- Sinai Medical Center
  • Celebrity Sports Spectacular
  • The CEW Awards
  • Children's Miracle Network
  • The City of Hope
  • The City of  San Bernardino, CA
  • The City of Orlando
  • The ESPY Awards
  • Inland Empire Latino of the Year
  • Hispanic Achievement Awards
  • Hispanic Heritage Awards
  • Hispanic Magazine
  • Hispanic Business Magazine
  • Major League Baseball - season opener
  • MLB Allstar Celebrity Softball Game
  • The National Council of LaRaza
  • New York Stock Exchange - opening bell
  • New York Yankees - home opener
  • *NSYNC
  • The Oscars
  • Orlando Magic - season finale
  • "The Rookie" - movie premiere
  • The Victor Awards

Derek in the Latino Community

     Since bringing home the gold,  Derek has already used his blossoming celebrity status to give back to the Latino community in a number of ways. He has been particularly active in the area of education. He is a spokesperson for the National Hispanic Press Foundation to encourage education among Latinos and he has already established two Derek Parra Scholarships earmarked for Latino students.  He has been recognized at the NCLR sponsored American Latino Media Arts Awards, he’s been named the Inland Empire (southern CA) Latino of the Year and awarded the prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award.  He's been an invited keynote speaker for the National Council of LaRaza (NCLR), LARASA, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the US Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. He's already appeared at numerous Latino focused community events and been utilized in Hispanic print, radio and television advertising campaigns.  He has been named as one of Hispanic Business Magazine's 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States recognized by Hispanic Magazine with a Hispanic Achievement Award as Sportsman of the Year and he has been profiled by Latino Legends in Sport. 


Derek in Corporate America

     Derek  has made performed speaking engagements/personal appearances for these companies and organizations:

  • American Chiropractic Association
  • American Library Association
  • Big Bear Mountain Premium Spring Water
  • Center for Disease Control - Anti Smoking
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Cedar Sinai Medical Center
  • Coca Cola
  • The City of Hope
  • Disney
  • ESPN
  • Fiesta Broadway - LA
  • Franklin Covey
  • Gap
  • General Mills
  • Health South
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Hispanic Magazine
  • Home Depot
  • Kraft/Nabisco
  • LARASA
  • McDonald's 
  • National Arthritis Foundation
  • National Hispanic Press Foundation
  • Nationwide Insurance - El Dia de los Ninos
  • NBC
  • Nike
  • Novell Inc.
  • Office Depot
  • Senior PGA
  • Shopko
  • Stater Bros. Markets
  • Special Olympics
  • United States Olympic Committee
  • US Department of Education
  • US Roller Sports Association
  • US Speedskating Association
  • University of California - San Bernardino
  • US Congressman Joe Baca
  • USANA
  • Wells Fargo
For more information about Derek visit: http://www.QSPORTS.net