KC Boutiette
Encyclopedia
KC Boutiette (born April 11, 1970) is an American
speed skater from Tacoma, Washington
and four-time Olympian.
He was first of the wave of inline speed skaters
who made the transition from inline to ice in order to have a shot at going to the Olympics.
Among American speed skaters, Boutiette's story is half legendary. In 1993, he showed up at the Pettit National Ice Center
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, looking to improve his technique on inline skates but ended up earning a spot on the team that would be sent to the 1994 Winter Olympics
in Lillehammer, Norway. Although he had been a champion inline speed skater for years, Boutiette at that time had no ice speed skating experience at all. Nevertheless, within a few months he made the team.
Although Boutiette has never won an Olympic medal, he demonstrated to other American inline speed skaters that the opportunity was there if they would give it a shot. Following in his footsteps were, Apolo Ohno, Derek Parra
, Jennifer Rodriguez
(Boutiette's ex-wife), and Joey Cheek
, won seven medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City, Utah
. After 2002 he went out and hand picked another former inline skater, Chad Hedrick
who went on to win three medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Torino, Italy after switching to ice skating in 2003. Now almost half of the Olympic Team were inline skaters of which he paved the way for. Boutiette skated in the team pursuit in the 2006 Olympics. For the years leading up to the Olympics he has been known as the captain of the pursuit team with race tactics and strategy. With confusion towards the end of the race, he fell behind the rest of the team where the United States finished sixth. In one interview KC mentions that he wasn't disappointed about not getting a medal but disappointed in the team not working together because of some selfish skaters only looking out for themselves. He also skated in the 5000 meter race at the 2006 Games, finishing in 19th place. In the Netherlands
he participated as a marathon
speed skater for several years and in this period he won the Six Days of the Greenery
twice in 2003 and 2004. He wore the brussels sprout suit for ten days in between 2003 and 2005, the second in ranking after Cédric Michaud
. In total he won 23 speed skating marathons on artificial tracks. He also was the leader in the Essent Cup for two days, wearing the orange suit.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
speed skater from Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and four-time Olympian.
He was first of the wave of inline speed skaters
Inline speed skating
Inline speed skating is the sport of racing on inline skates It is often called inline racing by participants. Although it primarily evolved from racing on traditional roller skates, the sport is similar enough to ice speed skating that many competitors are now known to switch between inline and...
who made the transition from inline to ice in order to have a shot at going to the Olympics.
Among American speed skaters, Boutiette's story is half legendary. In 1993, he showed up at the Pettit National Ice Center
Pettit National Ice Center
The Pettit National Ice Center is an indoor ice skating facility in West Allis, Wisconsin featuring two international-size ice rinks and a 400-meter speed skating oval. Located adjacent to Wisconsin State Fair Park, the center opened on December 31, 1992, and was named for Milwaukee philanthropists...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, looking to improve his technique on inline skates but ended up earning a spot on the team that would be sent to the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
in Lillehammer, Norway. Although he had been a champion inline speed skater for years, Boutiette at that time had no ice speed skating experience at all. Nevertheless, within a few months he made the team.
Although Boutiette has never won an Olympic medal, he demonstrated to other American inline speed skaters that the opportunity was there if they would give it a shot. Following in his footsteps were, Apolo Ohno, Derek Parra
Derek Parra
Derek Parra is a Mexican-American speed skater from San Bernardino, California, who graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1988. Parra won two medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, held in Salt Lake City, Utah....
, Jennifer Rodriguez
Jennifer Rodriguez
Jennifer Rodriguez is a Cuban-American speed skater. She started her career as an artistic roller skater, winning multiple national championships and placing second and third at world championships. Later she switched to inline speed skating and became world champion in 1993...
(Boutiette's ex-wife), and Joey Cheek
Joey Cheek
+William Joseph Cheek is an American speed skater and former inline speed skater...
, won seven medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. After 2002 he went out and hand picked another former inline skater, Chad Hedrick
Chad Hedrick
Chad Hedrick is an American inline speed skater and ice speed skater. He was born in Spring, Texas.Hedrick revolutionized the inline speed skating world with his unique technique, called the double push or DP...
who went on to win three medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Torino, Italy after switching to ice skating in 2003. Now almost half of the Olympic Team were inline skaters of which he paved the way for. Boutiette skated in the team pursuit in the 2006 Olympics. For the years leading up to the Olympics he has been known as the captain of the pursuit team with race tactics and strategy. With confusion towards the end of the race, he fell behind the rest of the team where the United States finished sixth. In one interview KC mentions that he wasn't disappointed about not getting a medal but disappointed in the team not working together because of some selfish skaters only looking out for themselves. He also skated in the 5000 meter race at the 2006 Games, finishing in 19th place. In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
he participated as a marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
speed skater for several years and in this period he won the Six Days of the Greenery
Six Days of the Greenery
The Six Days of the Greenery is a marathon speed skating event that that is held on a yearly basis in the Netherlands. The event consists of six races in a six day time span. The distance covered in every race is 100 laps on a 400m track...
twice in 2003 and 2004. He wore the brussels sprout suit for ten days in between 2003 and 2005, the second in ranking after Cédric Michaud
Cédric Michaud
Cédric Michaud is a French marathon speed skater.He was the first non Dutchman after Oleg Bozhev to win the Essent Cup in 2002-03, while he won the cup another time in 2005-06. In that year he also won the Dick van Gangelen Trophy and the Six Days of the Greenery...
. In total he won 23 speed skating marathons on artificial tracks. He also was the leader in the Essent Cup for two days, wearing the orange suit.
External links
- K.C. Boutiette's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Photos of KC Boutiette
- Unhappy day for speed skater KC Boutiette San Jose Mercury News, February 11, 2006.