Tag: Erin Jackson

Gators alumna Erin Jackson becomes first Black American woman to medal in speed skating

Jackson won the gold medal in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event.

As far as Olympic sports go, Florida is best known for its products in the summer games, whether that is track and field, swimming or gymnastics. But UF alumna Erin Jackson — the No. 1-ranked skater in the world — brought home some hardware in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, winning gold in the 500-meter speedskating event.

Jackson, who is 29-years-old and a 2015 graduate of the University of Florida, earned a time of 37.04 seconds, which was just 0.07 ahead of the pace of the next fastest time. With her gold medal, she becomes the first Black American woman to win a medal in a speed skating event.

Jackson almost missed the Olympics entirely. During the qualifiers, she slipped and failed to make the Games. However, her friend and teammate Brittany Bowe gave up her spot on the team for Jackson, who took full advantage of her second chance.

She becomes the second Florida alum to medal in the Olympics in the last 12 months, as star hurdler Grant Holloway took home the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles in Tokyo last summer.

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Erin Jackson going for gold in speedskating after learning to skate on ice four years ago

After a dramatic slip at U.S. speedskating trials that threatened her Olympic dreams, Erin Jackson has her sights on the gold medal.

After a dramatic slip at U.S. speedskating trials that threatened her Olympic dreams, Erin Jackson has her sights on the gold medal.

Get to know Erin Jackson: 5 facts about the world No. 1 speedskater and Olympic gold-medal favorite

Here are a few things to know about Erin Jackson, who’s ranked No. 1 in the world in the 500-meter long track speedskating event.

For the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, For The Win is helping you get to know some of the star Olympians competing on the world’s biggest stage. Leading up to the Opening Ceremony, we’re highlighting 15 Team USA athletes we think you should get to know. Up next is speedskater Erin Jackson.

American long track speedskater Erin Jackson enters her second Olympic Games in a very different spot compared with her first. The 29-year-old skater from Ocala, Florida went to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics after only a few months of training on the ice, and now, she’s headed to the Beijing Games on top of the world — literally.

So ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, here are five things to know about Jackson.

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How world No. 1 speedskater Erin Jackson could still get to Beijing Olympics, despite slip at trials

Top-ranked speedskater Erin Jackson “hit a bad edge” at Olympic Trials, but she could still have a shot at the Games.

With every victory at the Olympics or in the process of getting there, athletes also face the heartbreak of not achieving sometimes lifelong goals. In some sports, one tiny mistake is enough to evaporate an athlete’s shot at an Olympic medal, or, in Erin Jackson’s case, a chance to even contend.

The U.S. long track speedskater is currently the best in the world in the women’s 500-meter race, but a costly slip-up during the Olympic trials on Friday in the qualifying event could end up keeping Jackson from competing in the Beijing Games in February.

However, she still has a chance.

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