Erin Jackson: Speed Skating Champ's Rising Pressure to Defend Olympic Gold
Erin Jackson, the Olympic speed skating champion, is preparing to defend her 500m title at the Milano Cortina Games despite facing ongoing injury challenges. Jackson is also a strong advocate for diversity in speed skating and aims to make the sport more accessible to people of color.
Erin Jackson is embracing the high expectations that accompany her Olympic champion status as she prepares for the Milano Cortina Games. She made history as the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold in an individual sport nearly four years ago.
The 33-year-old American athlete aims to defend her 500m speed skating title in Italy, despite dealing with persistent injuries that demanded multiple surgeries since her 2022 Beijing triumph. "Being the reigning Olympic champion brings pressure, but it's what drives me to the next level," Jackson told Reuters.
Besides her achievements on the ice, Jackson advocates for diversity in speed skating. She's involved with Edge Outdoors, promoting snow sports among women of color, and plans to establish an organization to help overcome financial barriers to entry in the sport once she retires.
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