Erin Jackson is an American speed skater, former roller derby athlete, and Olympic gold medalist who made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She became the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics and the first Black American woman to win an Olympic medal in speed skating. Representing the United States in inline speed skating, roller derby, and long-track speed skating, Erin Jackson has built a career defined not only by athletic excellence but also by cultural significance in winter sports history.

Early Life and Education

Erin Jackson was born on September 19, 1992, in Ocala, Florida, to Tracy and Rita Jackson. She grew up alongside her brother in a supportive family environment that encouraged education and sport. Her first encounter with ice came at the age of eight when she briefly tried figure skating. Although she did not immediately pursue ice sports, that early exposure would later take on symbolic significance.

She attended Shores Christian Academy, Howard Middle School, and Forest High School, where she was accepted into the Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Institute program. Academically gifted as well as athletically talented, Erin Jackson later joined the University of Florida Honors Program. In 2015, she graduated cum laude with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Demonstrating continued commitment to education, she earned an associate degree in Computer Science from Salt Lake Community College in 2020 and has pursued further studies in Exercise Science and Kinesiology.

In 2011, while she was still in high school, her mother Rita passed away. The loss marked a deeply personal turning point, but it did not derail her academic or athletic ambitions.

Early Skating Career: Inline and Roller Derby

Erin Jackson began skating competitively at age 10 in 2002, focusing on inline speed skating for the next 15 years. Her natural sprinting ability and technical precision quickly made her one of the most successful inline skaters in the United States.

She won gold in the 500 meters at the 2008–09 Junior World Championships and captured another 500-meter gold at the 2014 Pan American Championships. Over her roller sports career, she accumulated 12 world championship medals and 47 national titles. In 2012 and 2013, she was named Female Athlete of the Year in Roller Sports by the United States Olympic Committee.

In 2012, she transitioned into roller derby, competing with the Jacksonville RollerGirls under the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. At the 2014 WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs in Evansville, Indiana, she earned MVP honors and helped her team qualify for the 2015 and 2016 WFTDA Championships. Her combination of power and agility translated seamlessly across skating disciplines.

Transition to Long-Track Speed Skating

In February 2017, after 15 years on wheels, Erin Jackson stepped onto long-track ice for the first time. By September of that year, she had committed to the sport full-time. In a remarkably short development window, she qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea—just four months after seriously training on ice. She placed 24th in the 500 meters among 31 competitors, a respectable result given her limited experience.

Following PyeongChang, her progression accelerated dramatically. She broke six U.S. national records—five of them within four years—earned 28 World Cup medals (including 16 gold), and captured five national championships. In November 2021, at a World Cup event in Poland, she won the 500 meters with two track records, becoming the first Black American woman to win a Speed Skating World Cup race.

2022 Beijing Olympic Triumph

Entering the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Erin Jackson held the fastest 500-meter time in the world that season. However, a slip during trials relegated her to third place, just outside automatic qualification. Teammate and close friend Brittany Bowe, who had already qualified in the 1000 meters, voluntarily relinquished her 500-meter spot so that Jackson—considered a top gold medal contender—could compete.

On February 13, 2022, Erin Jackson delivered one of the most iconic performances in Winter Olympic history, winning the women’s 500 meters in 37.04 seconds. She finished 0.08 seconds ahead of the silver medalist, securing gold and rewriting the record books.

This victory made her the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics, the first Black American woman to win an Olympic medal in speed skating, the first American woman to win Olympic speed skating gold since 2002, and the first American woman to win the 500 meters since 1994.

Continued International Success

In March 2023, Erin Jackson won silver in the team sprint at the World Single Distances Championships. At the 2024 Four Continents Speed Skating Championships, she captured gold in the 500 meters and silver in the team sprint. She successfully defended her 500-meter dominance again at the 2025 Four Continents Championships with another gold medal.

In January 2026, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she won both the 500 meters and 1000 meters, securing her place at the 2026 Milano Winter Olympics. In February 2026, she was selected by her teammates to serve as a flag bearer at the opening ceremony alongside bobsledder Frank Del Duca, underscoring her leadership status within Team USA.

Specialization and Records

Erin Jackson specializes primarily in the 500 meters, though she also competes in the 1000 meters. She holds the American record in the women’s 500 meters, set in 2021. Additionally, she shares the women’s team sprint national record with Brittany Bowe and Sarah Warren. Her powerful hip drive and explosive acceleration have made her one of the fastest sprinters in the world.

Remarkably, Erin Jackson transitioned to long-track speed skating only in 2017 and became an Olympic champion within five years. Her journey—from inline rinks in Florida to the top of the Olympic podium—stands as one of the most extraordinary transformations in modern winter sports history.

Source: Biyografiler.com