Two years later, he earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. In 2002, he won both a gold and a silver medal at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Parra thinks he was "in great shape from in-line skating. My quads were well-developed and I had great aerobic ability. But on ice and in-line, the push to the side is different. With in-line, you pull the skates across because of friction. On the ice, you land the skate and wait until your body weight falls in — then you can push even longer.

"But there is early pressure in a long push, so I was pushing too soon on the ice. It was difficult coming from being No. 1 in the world in roller skating to a new sport where everyone else could do better. I had a good technique with in-line and knew what to watch for, but on ice I had to think about everything I was doing."

His small size is not an advantage in either sport. "Bigger guys catch more wind and a longer stride. If the air is calm, it evens out. Technique is the most important thing. Indoors, I focus on technique, pushing the right spots, trying to figure out my best distance. Outdoors, I get blown around like a Volkswagen on the highway compared to 6-feet-2-inch guys who are more like Mack trucks."

Parra says that when he won the gold, it didn't sink in at first. "The competition was picture perfect. I was excited but still in disbelief. Then there was chaos — with interviews and rushing around. When I heard the national anthem and the crowd started singing, it was like you could see it coming. I saw everyone's faces. It was a fantastic feeling.

"I was thinking about the people who helped me get there. Seeing the faces, hearing the music, feeling the crowd's energy, knowing I'd accomplished what I'd set out to do. I tell kids I wish I had a plug I could plug into their hearts to help them feel what I felt on that podium."

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E-mail: dennis@desnews.com