Erin Jackson: From Special Forces to Olympic Glory – Road to 2026
Erin Jackson, the US flag bearer and the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic individual gold medal, embodies resilience and determination. Her story isn’t just about speed skating; it’s about confronting fears and pushing boundaries, lessons she recently honed on the grueling reality TV show, ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.
Testing Limits Beyond the Ice
On the ice, Jackson is renowned for her control and precision. But she sought a different kind of challenge on ‘Special Forces’, joining a cast including athletes like Dez Bryant and Bode Miller. Her goal wasn’t to outperform her peers, but to face her own anxieties. One particularly daunting test involved being submerged in icy water, requiring her to hold her breath and escape – a challenge she initially struggled with, but ultimately completed, earning a passing grade as the only world-class athlete to do so.
“I’m a lot tougher than I thought,” Jackson shared. “The show did a really good job of exploiting all of my fears. It was a good character-building experience for me.”
A History-Making Champion
Jackson’s foundation is already remarkable. From a wheeled skating prodigy in Ocala, Florida, she transitioned to ice skating and made history at the 2022 Beijing Games, winning gold in the 500m sprint. Now, as a US flag bearer at the Milano Cortina Games, expectations are high. While a stumble in the 1000m was a setback, her focus remains firmly on defending her 500m title on Sunday.
From Rink Rat to Olympic Star
Jackson’s love for skating began early, with childhood memories of skating on plastic skates in her driveway. This passion evolved into a vocation, earning her 47 national titles and a role on the US roller derby team. In 2016, at age 24, she bravely switched to speed skating, qualifying for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang after just four months of training.
Her momentum continued, setting track records and becoming the first Black woman to win on the World Cup circuit. The road to Beijing wasn’t without hurdles. A fall during the 500m trials initially seemed to dash her Olympic hopes. However, a remarkable act of sportsmanship from Brittany Bowe, who relinquished her spot, allowed Jackson to compete.
Bowe stated, “No one is more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal.” In a further twist, Team USA received an additional quota place, enabling both athletes to skate. Jackson seized the opportunity, winning gold by a mere eight-hundredths of a second – the first American woman to win the event since Bonnie Blair in 1994.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
Since her Beijing triumph, Jackson has embraced speaking engagements, endorsements (including a recent ad for Hershey’s chocolate), and media appearances. But what truly motivates her is inspiring the next generation. “I really take on that responsibility with pride of being a face others can look to and maybe get out and try the sport,” she says. She envisions creating an organization to fund aspiring speed skaters, recognizing the sport’s financial barriers.
Currently, her focus is on defending her title. She carries her gold medal as a reminder of her journey, even joking about its tendency to trigger airport security checks. Despite battling injuries, including back and hamstring issues and surgery for fibroids, Jackson remains undeterred. She’s ready to leave everything on the ice, embracing the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead as she sets her sights on the 2026 Olympics.
Learn more about Erin Jackson and her journey at Team USA’s official website.
