Derek Parra
Derek Parra
Derek Parrais an American of Mexican Native American descent. inline skater and speed skater from San Bernardino, California, who graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1988. Parra won two medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, held in Salt Lake City, Utah...
beer drink exception fine guys late next rule stay taught
He's one of those guys who can drink a beer and be fine the next day. He can stay out late and be fine the next day. Every rule I've ever been taught about this sport, he's the exception to it. But he wins.
days
Some days I'm OK. Some days I'm not.
days family gone heart skated
I've skated with my heart and my family for so many years and now that it is gone it has been really hard. Some days I'm OK. Some days I'm not. It's just difficult.
gifted grow seen skater watched
He's probably the most gifted skater I've ever seen in my life. We battled each other for years. I watched him grow up.
feeling life looking thankful
I was looking at my life and feeling so thankful about what I have.
journey symbolizes
It's still the accomplishment; it's not about the medal. It's about the journey getting there, I think, and this symbolizes that journey.
family skate
I skate with my heart. My family has been there with me for so many years. Now, that's all gone.
fastest hurts skating stress summer talk
I went from skating my fastest times this summer to just being fatigued by the stress of the divorce. It really hurts when I can't talk to my daughter.
exciting good race
It will be an exciting race to watch. It's good to be king.
born floats god lifted
He just floats on his skates. It's like God lifted him up when he was born and said, 'You're going to be a skater.
carry imagine load took
It took a load off her shoulders. I can't even imagine what it was like to carry around something like that all those years. Accomplishing what she did was pretty miraculous.