“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” Olympic long track speed skater Jonathan Garcia may have been channeling his inner Ferris Bueller for his life philosophy, but few athletes know speed as intimately as the Houston native.

Born and raised in Katy, TX, a suburb 31 miles due west of Houston, Jonathan grew up a Houston Astros fan, and counts Hall-of-Fame second baseman Craig Biggio as his favorite player.

His Houston fandom has followed him to PyeongChang, from where he sent the following tweet earlier in the week, giving a shout-out to reigning batting champ and American League MVP, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve: “Channeling my inner Jose Altuve before training today.”

A true Houstonian, the 5’7″ skater even lists the Rockets and Texans as his other favorite teams. While Jonathan’s bed in the Olympic village sports the obligatory Olympic rings blanket and other Team USA bling, a huge orange and blue Astros flag is pinned proudly above his bed.

Garcia’s childhood hero even noticed the speed skater’s fanaticism and gave a Twitter shout-out to the Olympian after the opening ceremonies. Biggio was pictured holding a sign, “Go Jonathan! Team USA” while giving a thumbs up.

Portrait of the Skater as a Young Astro Fan

Jonathan Garcia was born on December 14, 1986, and was turned on to inline skating at age 7, when he saw Olympian Dan Jansen win speed skating gold at the 1994 Lillehammer games on TV. Garcia graduated from Katy’s Taylor High School in 2005. He came in 28th in the 1000m race at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

After spending 10 years as an inline skater who three times made the US world championship team in that sport, he’s also thinking about the future, according to a recent Houston Chronicle article: “He would like to continue for four more years, but also has designs on a career as a strength and conditioning coach. But, since college and full-time training in such a demanding sport as speed skating don’t mix, school will have to wait until skating is done.”

Garcia, 31, is a rocker at heart, shredding on his guitar in his spare time, and attending concerts when he can. Cued up on his streaming service of choice, at any given time, might be the likes of Pearl Jam, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Black Crowes, and A Tribe Called Quest.

His culinary faves would give him away as a native Texan if nothing else did: Barbecue and Tex-Mex.

Constantly on the road between Olympic years and other competitions all over the world, Garcia can often be found practicing at the speed skating oval in suburban Salt Lake City.

Garcia Eyes the Future

“I like knowing that every year I’ve skated that I have constantly gotten better,” Garcia told the Chronicle. “I think I can take it another four years. I think I can make another Olympic team. But I would have to be 100 percent confident I can do it at the same level or higher.

“The older I get, the more I appreciate it,” he continued. “The Olympics are so big. It’s such a special time.

“You think of the population of the United States, and we’re sending 230 athletes to South Korea. It’s such an honor to represent the United States, and it’s something that should never be taken for granted.”

Gettin’ Pumped

And, according to local NBC affiliate, KPRC’s Jacob Rascon, Garcia, die-hard Houston Astros fan that he is, re-watched Game 5 of the World Series between the Astros and Dodgers to get pumped for his event. “Almost race day!”

Garcia raced in PyeongChang Feb. 19 in the men’s 500 meters, and finished in 23rd place, with a 35.31 time, and a +.90 gap.

.Related: Park City, Utah: Home of Winter Olympic Champions