Erin JACKSON

NEAR MISS
At the 2022 US Olympic Trials, she had a mishap during the race and placed in third. Despite being the World Cup leader, the United States of America only had two available spots, meaning Jackson would miss the Olympic Games. But then she received a call from team mate Brittany Bowe, who had won the race but decided to forfeit her spot in favour of Jackson. “Just for her to do something like this for me, it’s amazing,” she said. “I’m just incredibly grateful. I’m really humbled, and she’s just an amazing person.” After re-allocation of unused quota spots, the United States received the right to enter a third skater, allowing to Bowe to enter as well. (nbcsports.com, 9 Jan 2022)

FAST LEARNER
Started speed skating in September 2017 as part of the International Skating Union (ISU)'s development transition program, which is intended to help athletes from other sports, like inline speed skating, to transfer to speed skating. She exceeded all expectations by qualifying for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. "I really wasn't expecting any of this, just coming in as a newbie, just trying to do the best I can. I was coming into the Olympic trials this year just hoping to get some experience and see where I am after the time I've had on the ice. It was definitely a goal of mine to be on Team USA. I just didn't see it happening this quickly." (Info 2018)

ROLE MODEL
Hopes to help increase racial diversity in speed skating. "I realise people kind of look to people who look like them, in terms of what they feel like they can do, so when people watch the Olympic Winter Games and roller derby and other forms of skating, they might not see a lot of people of colour out there. I'm looking forward to being one of those people that other young kids and people of colour can look to and say, 'Hey, she's out there doing it so we have some representation'." (burnitalldownpod.com, 8 Feb 2018)

FURTHER EDUCATION
Her associate degree studies were facilitated by a partnership between US Speed Skating and Salt Lake Community College that allows athletes to take tuition-free classes. "Maybe going to school is a hobby for me. When I first moved here I wasn't going to school and I felt like I had a whole lot of free time. I felt like I wasn't being very productive, so when the programme became available I started taking classes again. I feel more productive when I have more to do. If I don't have enough on my plate then I do nothing, so I try to find the balance where it's enough to keep me busy but not interfering with my training. Plus I just really like learning." (teamusa.org, 21 Dec 2020)

SUPPORT
After qualifying for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, she set up a fundraiser to allow her father to join her as a supporter, selling enough t-shirts for her father to travel to Korea. (sites.google.com, 2018)

OCALA CONNECTION
Two of the other top skaters on the USA team are also from Ocala, FL. Like Jackson, both Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia hail from the town of 60,000. There is no ice rink there, but all three started there as inline speed skaters and had the same youth coach, Renee Hildebrand (USA). (nbcsports.com, 12 Nov 2021)

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Won gold in the 500m at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

2018, she was the first African-American woman to represent the United States in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games.