BEIJING (AP) 鈥� Erin Jackson shocked herself by making the U.S. Olympic team four years ago. Barely confident of staying upright after just four months on the ice, she was just happy to be in Pyeongchang. Now, she鈥檚 the favorite for speedskating gold in Beijing.
鈥淭his time around I鈥檓 coming in swinging and I鈥檝e got my sights set,鈥� she said.
The former inline and roller derby skater from balmy Ocala, Florida, has made huge strides since 2018, when she finished 24th in the 500 meters in South Korea.
to win a World Cup race in November. She took four of this season鈥檚 eight races in the 500, medaled in two others and is No. 1 in the world in the sprint race, which seemingly made her a lock for the Olympic team.
A slip of her blade nearly did her in. at the U.S. trials in early January and finished third. Only the top two were guaranteed berths, leaving Jackson sleepless that night wondering if her dream had been dashed.
Brittany Bowe wouldn鈥檛 hear of it. Bowe will compete in the event on Sunday, too, after the U.S. picked up a third quota spot.
No American woman has won the 500 since Bonnie Blair claimed three straight Olympic titles from 1988-1994. The last individual medal of any kind by a U.S. woman came in 2002.
"Erin is absolutely on the top of her game now,鈥� Bowe said. 鈥淚 cannot wait to see what she has in store.鈥�
Neither can coach Renee Hildebrand, who will be watching from Florida.
Jackson and Bowe, along with teammate Joey Mantia, are all from Ocala and grew up training as inline skaters on two wheels under Hildebrand before transitioning to ice.
鈥淓rin's technique is still not what she wants it to be on ice," Hildebrand said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 really quick right now. Eventually, she鈥檚 going to be really quick and really good with her technique. I think she will break some records.鈥�
Jackson began skating at age 10, quickly transforming into a self-described rink rat. She looked up to Bowe, who at 33 is four years older.
鈥淭his just makes it so much sweeter,鈥� Jackson said of Bowe鈥檚 gesture. 鈥淚t makes it 10 times more awesome.鈥�
Jackson鈥檚 stumble is one of several obstacles she鈥檚 overcome. In 2019, she endured back problems. Then she missed the entire 2020-21 season because of COVID-19 quarantines for being a close contact and because of an eye injury caused by a bungee cord snapping loose.
Through it all, Jackson kept the same composure she showed after her slip at trials.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a class act through everything,鈥� said Matt Kooreman, national sprint coach for US Speedskating.
Jackson describes herself as more of a student than an athlete. She certainly has the credentials, having graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 2015 with a degree in materials science and engineering. She earned an associate鈥檚 degree in computer science and is working toward another associate鈥檚 in kinesiology.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine not taking every opportunity I can to better my education,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 value education so much.鈥�
Jackson took a year off from classes to prepare for the Olympics, but she鈥檚 missing the academic grind.
鈥淚鈥檓 better all around when I鈥檓 a little busier,鈥� she said. 鈥淩ight now, I feel like I鈥檝e gotten really lazy.鈥�
Among her many goals is increasing diversity in a sport dominated by white athletes. She has reached out to Edge Outdoors, a Washington state non-profit that provides scholarships to cultivate women of color in snow sports, about possibly starting a Utah chapter.
鈥淵oung girls are writing to her. She鈥檚 enjoying that part of it now,鈥� Hildebrand said. "She鈥檚 understanding that she can make history in more ways than one. We need more diversity in our sport, both inline and on ice. To see skaters of all different colors would be great.鈥�
The racial reckoning that took hold in the U.S. after George Floyd was killed by police in 2020 helped lay the groundwork for change decades in the making in sports. Jackson has her own thoughtful approach.
鈥淚 stay out of all the things that are going on like that. I feel that, of course, because it鈥檚 something you can鈥檛 really escape,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I try to help by being a positive example. There鈥檚 a lot of negativity in the world and I try to fight it by being an example of something good.鈥�
One of her inspirations is her 72-year-old father, Tracy. He moved to Salt Lake City from Florida last June to live with his only daughter. Her mother, Rita, died in 2011 when Jackson was a senior in high school.
鈥淗e means a lot to me,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been a daddy鈥檚 girl. Just having his love here and now, it鈥檚 like I never left.鈥�
Jackson鈥檚 evolution from the rough-and-tough pack skating of roller derby on four wheels to racing on blades in a pair against the clock has been gradual. Her coach Ryan Shimabukuro got her biking, lifting weights and dry-land training, things she鈥檇 never done as an inliner.
鈥淭he ice is so much more technical,鈥� Shimabukuro said. 鈥淵ou make one mistake, you can lose 10 spots, especially in the 500 meters where the smallest margin is a thousandth of a second.鈥�
Jackson has proven a quick study, to the point where Shimabukuro has had to tell her to knock off wearing herself out.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a game-day racer,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of her biggest attributes. No matter what the situation is on the day of the race she can up her level.鈥�
A lifelong learner, Jackson figures she鈥檚 still early in her education on ice.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 see myself stopping now when I鈥檓 just figuring out what I鈥檓 doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 the beginning.鈥�
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Beth Harris, The Associated Press
