Print the Biography/Short

Jessica Kooreman

United States

SportSpeed Skating
NOCUnited States
Born14 Oct 1983 in  Melvindale, MI
GenderWomen
ResidenceSalt Lake City, UT, USA
Higher educationBusiness Management - Ashworth College: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
OccupationMotivational Speaker, Real Estate Agent
LanguagesEnglish
FamilyHusband Mike
Other namesJessica Smith
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 39.65 10 Mar 2007 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:18.38 11 Nov 2007 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 2:01.46 26 Nov 2005 Calgary  
    3000m 4:20.87 29 Dec 2005 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 7:42.46 22 Jan 2006 Calgary  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesWatching movies, shopping, spending time with friends, playing golf, hiking, cooking. (nbcolympics.com, 20 Oct 2017; Facebook page, 07 Oct 2017)  
InjuriesShe 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)
 
Other sportsShe 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)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHer 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.  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHer husband, her parents. (nbcolympics.com, 20 Oct 2017; Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She began roller skating races at age two, and switched to the ice full-time in 2008.  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Go hard or go home." (Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)  
Memorable sporting achievementPlacing fourth in the 1000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (Athlete, 02 Feb 2017)  
Hero / IdolUS 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)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/JessicaSmithUSA/  
twitter.com/TheJessicaSmith  
jessicaonice.com/  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHer husband Mike competed in short track at international level, including winning the 5000m relay at the 2004/05 World Cup event in Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia. He has also coached the German national team. (nbcolympics.com, 20 Oct 2017; nbc4i.com, 03 Oct 2017; SportsDeskOnline, 12 Feb 2005)  
Other informationRETIREMENT
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)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships 500m23  
    2006/2007 World Sprint Championships Overall28  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 100m30  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 500m33  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1000m46