The speed skating star, Erin Jackson has repeatedly made history as a rising name in the industry. Sliding through the World Championships and the Olympics to secure victories as the first black woman multiple times, the 2022 Winter Olympics gold medalist has etched a force for decades to come. However, the journey to the pinnacle wasn’t always a path of certainty for the 31-year-old.

On Feb 13, 2022, Erin Jackson made history as the first black woman to clinch a gold in Winter Olympics history. Marking 2 years since then, here’s a glimpse at the champion’s inspirational journey as she continues to walk a path resilient and glorious.

A look at Erin Jackson’s journey to Winter Olympics

Inline skating has been Erin Jackson’s domain since the star was a tender age. Junior World Championships, Pan Am, and Female Athlete of the Year honors, all and more have framed the champion’s glory since she was 17. However, her feats only remained limited to inline skating until she decided to hop on the ice speed skating in 2016. Two years into the practice and 4 months into the experience, Jackson witnessed the marking of her growth in qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

24th out of 31 was Erin Jackson’s placing during her first Olympic appearance. But in the years that followed the champion rose to make history with a little help from her long-time friend, Brittany Bowe.

During the US trials for the 2022 Olympics, Jackson slipped on the 500-meter-long track, hindering her chances at qualification. However, Bowe, who had finished first and had secured multiple qualifications, gave up her spot for Erin to walk further ahead. “I thought she earned it and she deserved it,” Bowe states. And Jackson did not disappoint.

Erin raced the 500m at a time of 37.04 seconds and ahead by 0.08. With that, Jackson not only became the first black woman to clinch the gold but also the first American woman to win Olympic speed skating since 2002. However, that was just the initial recognition garnered for the 31-year-old.

The star’s meteoric rise

Following her Olympic success, Erin Jackson returned to glory after 20 months, recovering from a lower back injury. In November 2023, at the Beijing World Cup, Jackson put up 37.91 seconds to earn her first World Cup win since the 2022 Winter Olympics. In the period between, Jackson won the one-lap sprint at the world championships in Buenos Aires and clinched a silver in 500m. She also contested at Special Forces, season 2, coming home a winner.

Also Read: “A Different Speed”: Sha’Carri Richardson Cheers for American Speed Skater After World Cup Performance

But most recently, Erin Jackson added 4th World Cup win to her 8 races when she attained glory in Salt Lake City. The champion recorded 36.90 on the clock, thus becoming the only person to skate sub-37 seconds. With abundance to her name and more to come, Erin Jackson will be a force to reminisce about.

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