ESPN Olympic Sports

MILWAUKEE -- Jilleanne Rookard has a mother suffering from cancer, lives in the basement of a fellow speedskater's home, has to schedule training around a part-time job at a roller rink, and sometimes has trouble paying her bills because money is so tight.

That hasn't stopped her from closing in on a trip to the Olympics -- one of the most striking reminders that many of those who'll be competing in Vancouver aren't high-paid pro athletes, but those who sacrifice greatly for the love of their sport.

"It's been pretty rough," Rookard said Sunday. "There's been times when I've had $30 in my bank account. There's been times when I didn't know how I'd get through it."

Rookard was one of the biggest surprises at the U.S. speedskating trials in Milwaukee, winning the 5,000 meters Sunday to go along with an earlier win in the 3,000. She also earned spots on the World Cup team in both the 1,000 and 1,500, giving her a chance to skate up to four events in Vancouver.

While the Olympic team will be picked based on the results of five World Cup meets, Rookard's spot seems locked up after the way she skated at the Pettit National Ice Center.

She only hopes her mother, Claire, will be there to see her in Vancouver.

"One of her goals was to see me go to the Olympics," Rookard said, choking up a bit. "Now, it's come true."

Claire Rookard, who has suffered from multiple myeloma since 2005, was too ill to attend the speedskating trials. So a son-in-law took video and posted it on YouTube for her to see back home in Michigan. She hasn't given up on being at the Olympics, having already put down the money to rent a condo -- even before her daughter qualified.

"She was taking a big risk," Jilleanne said. "No pressure there, huh?"

Rookard is a former inline skater whose life took some unexpected turns over the past few years. She toyed with the idea of becoming an Olympic weightlifter because she could train at home while caring for her ailing mother. When the mother's health improved, she was encouraged by a sponsor to switch from wheels to blades in late 2006.

It wasn't an easy transition by any means.

"I tried it and I couldn't really stand up," Rookard recalled, breaking into an embarrassed grin. "I was hanging on to the walls. I was a nervous wreck. I was horrible. It's a completely different sport. Some inline skaters come over to ice thinking, 'Oh, I'm just going to walk on the ice and it's going to be so easy.' But it's not. I give a lot of credit to those athletes who can switch over."

Count Rookard among them. Less than three years after making the switch, she's all but assured of heading to the Olympics.

"The one thing she brought with her that was good (from inline skating) was a fight inside," said her coach, Kip Carpenter. "She's got a lot of emotional things on the outside that I think help motivate her, too. She's got a sick mother and her father died (eight) years ago. Basically, she's out here on her own. It's amazing what she can do."

Even more amazing when one considers her financial situation.

Without any major sponsors and having not yet qualified for a stipend from the U.S. Olympic Committee or U.S. Speedskating, she rents a room from local speedskater Ericka Hawke. To make ends meet, she works about 20 hours a week at the Incredi-Roll Skate & Family Fun Center in Milwaukee, serving as a DJ and giving lessons while wearing a pair of roller skates she's had since sixth grade.

"I really get into it," Rookard said. "I've got some moves. I call in roller-grooving."

What's not so fun is keeping up on the bills. A few weeks ago, she was having trouble paying her rent, so Carpenter asked a local skating club to help out. They gave Rookard a check for $1,000, which should get her by for another few months.

"An athlete at this level should only be worrying about getting better at their sport," Carpenter said. "But that's where she's at. She's one of those struggling athletes who really wanted it. Now, she's got it, so hopefully more (funding) comes her way. We'll see what we can do. Not only am I her coach, I try to do some things with marketing and stuff, see if we can get these guys some funding."

One bit of funding that won't be coming for a while is that check from the roller rink. Rookard will be heading off to Europe for the next three World Cup events.

"Actually, before I came here, my boss asked me when he could put me on the schedule," she said. "I told him, 'If I'm traveling, probably not for a long time."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index