Erin Jackson

Erin Jackson made history by becoming the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold medal, achieving this feat in the Women’s 500m speed skating at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. She finished the race in a dominant 37.04 seconds, eight-hundredths of a second ahead of her closest competitor, securing her place in sports history. Jackson’s remarkable transition to ice speed skating in 2017 led her to quickly qualify for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics after just four months of training, where she finished 24th in the 500m event. This experience propelled her forward, culminating in her becoming the first Black American woman to win a Speedskating World Cup race in 2021, setting the stage for her Olympic triumph.

Following her historic Olympic win, Jackson has continued to demonstrate her elite prowess and expand her professional profile. In 2023, she secured a bronze medal in the team sprint at the World Championships. Later that year, she temporarily returned to her inline skating roots to win the 500m + distance title at the Pan American Games. The 2023/24 season saw her regain her World Cup title in the 500m, a testament to her perseverance despite battling a long-term back injury.

Jackson is now focused on the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, where she aims to defend her Olympic title, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes.