Rodowsky delivers as a speed skater

By Fred Jeter

Published: January 8, 2009

Many folks in Annapolis, Md., know Jim Rodowsky as the paperboy.

For the better part of five years, he carried The Capital on as many as four routes at a time, seven days a week — wishful of saving for a dream.

Nowadays, having reestablished himself in Central Virginia, Rodowsky has stopped delivering the news, and started making it, as a nationally decorated speed skater.

Rodowsky, 15, is a member of Ice Zone-based Team Blaze. He’s the top-ranked, age-group skater in the U.S. and Canada.

Clean sweep: Racing at the North American Junior (U-16) Short-Track Championships in Madison, Wisc., Rodowsky competed in the 500 meters, 1,000, 1,500 and 777 (seven-lap) events. He finished first in all of them for the accumulative title.

“We call that domination,“ Blaze coach Scott Koon said.

Blaze Executive Director Dr. Steve Burton said, “If Jim continues to improve, he’s going to be an animal.“

Rodowsky’s Wisconsin whitewash earned the 5-11 165-pounder an invitation to Senior World Cup/World Championships near St. Louis, where he was the youngest skater.

Not to be intimidated by the likes of Olympic hero Apolo Ohno and other top names, Rodowsky was 15th in time trials, 14th overall.

“That was my best showing, because it wasn’t just against skaters my age — it was against everybody,“ he said. “I’m right where I should be, looking ahead to the next Olympics [2010, Vancouver].“

Next up is a trip to Green Bay, Wisc., for the third leg of the America Cup. If form holds, he’ll advance to the America Cup Finals (open age) in Midland, Mich., in March.

Commuter: Rodowsky commuted from Annapolis to Richmond until last year. Now, he splits time between Maryland and the Burton’s Woodlake home.

A close friend is fellow skater Josh Burton, son of Steve Burton and a Cosby High School student.

“This has all come as a surprise to us,“ said Rodowsky’s mother, Pat. “When Jim first said something about speed skating, my reaction was, ‘What’s that?’ If you’d told me three years ago about what’s be going on now, I’d have said you’re crazy.“

He’s been home-schooled (sometimes over the phone) since third grade and now is taking algebra, American history, biology, English and Korean.

Early on, Rodowsky skated for pay-as-you-go clubs in Laurel and Rockville, Md., before joining Blaze.

“I’ve got a great situation,“ he said. “This is the best skating club. I’ve got everything paid for: ice time, coaching, equipment, even travel.“

All that’s asked in return is year-round dedication to the sport and a helping hand for once-a-month bingo. It helps he’s been granted a Simon Olympic Endowment scholarship for training purposes.

Then there’s some still-unspent paper-route savings, just in case.