Derek D. Parra of Orlando, Florida – Mr. Parra is the first Mexican-American to compete and medal in the Olympic Winter Games, winning two medals in speed skating at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah: a Silver medal in the 5,000m and a Gold medal in the 1,500m.  A former inline skater, Mr. Parra won three national titles, two world championships and eighteen gold medals during his career in that sport before replacing his inline skates with ice skates to follow his dream of competing in the Olympics.  In addition to his Olympic medals, Mr. Parra was also the 2001 U.S. national champion, 2001 North American champion, 2000 U.S. allround overall champion and Silver medalist in the 1500m at the 2001 World Single Distance Championships.  When he's not on the ice, Mr. Parra works at Home Depot where he is part of the United States Olympic Committee's Olympic Job Opportunities Program.

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