U.S. speedskater Jen Rodriguez takes relaxed approach to preparation

Jen Rodriguez elected to march and soak in the majesty and malfunction of the opening ceremony for the first time since 1998. She veered away from training to visit the Nike House. She made an excursion to the Oakley House.

Instead of drowning herself in preparation and rigid routine, the speedskating veteran of four Winter Games opened her eyes and her schedule to these sidelights for, in effect, one reason.

“I have zero expectations,” a chipper Rodriguez said Monday.

She participated in her first Olympics in 1998, won bronze medals in 2002 and then retired from the sport for two years after 2006, and now returns to the Winter Games blithely unwound.

Rodriguez, 33, believes the carefree approach unshackles her, allowing her simply to enjoy the experience of her final Olympics -- and perhaps permitting her to race pressure-free.

“It’s kind of fine that way,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t really know what to expect and that’s kind of the fun, see what I can do out there.”

Take, for instance, her breezy view of the 500-meter race Tuesday. It is, in her words, “my weakest event.” She has, by her estimation, “pretty much no chance to even hit top 10 or anything.”

It is preparation for the 1,000- and 1,500-meter events, and whatever happens, happens. The contrast is evident to, say, the previous two Olympics, when Rodriguez skipped the opening ceremony because of the proximity of her race or just to preserve her physical condition.

“What I did in the past and the focus I had in the past, I did for a reason,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what I needed at that stage in my career. In Salt Lake, obviously, it worked really well for me.

“But I’m at a different stage in my life and my career. If I go into these races having fun, I think my performances will be better. My chances for a medal are a long shot, but if I have in my head, ‘If I don’t get a medal, it’s all over,’ then that’s no fun.”

Rodriguez hastens to add that these Games are not a three-week leisure getaway. And, U.S. Coach Ryan Shimabukuro says, Richmond Olympic Oval in fact may provide a boost.

“This kind of track suits her in terms of its setup, its radius,” Shimabukuro said. “But she’s enjoying it. She’s taking it all in, which has been one of her biggest goals.”

In the week before the Games, Rodriguez joked about not having the consistency in physical condition that she had before her temporary retirement after Turin, Italy. She said if you asked her how she felt the day before her race, it wouldn’t matter, because inevitably it would change in 24 hours.

Nevertheless, Rodriguez didn’t seem sidetracked on Monday.

“I felt pretty spunky, which is nice,” she said. “Nice to feel spunky the day before your race.”

She said she wasn’t sure how she would feel Tuesday. But then that’s the fun of it this time.

bchamilton@tribune.com