Photo: Richard Heathcote/GettyErin Jacksonhas made history at the2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.The speed skater, 29, won gold Sunday in the women’s 500m with a time of 37.04, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual medal in the event, according toTeam USA.“Remember the name,” Team USAsharedon Instagram. “@speedyj is the first Black woman to win an individual medal in speedskating at the #WinterOlympics.“She is also the first U.S. woman to win gold in speed skating at the Olympics in nearly 30 years, after Bonnie Blair placed first in 1994.Jackson crossed the finish line just 0.08 seconds before Japan’s Miho Takagi, while Angelina Golikova of the Russian Olympic Committee came in third with a time of 37.21.“I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion. A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness,” Jackson told reporters, according toCNN. “I haven’t fully processed everything quite yet, but it just feels amazing.““I had a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried to, I wouldn’t say recover, because it wasn’t anything big, but just tried to continue skating,” she added.The Florida native’s victory comes after her teammateBrittany Bowegave up her first place spotin last month’s qualifying event so Jackson could go to Beijing in her place (after spots in the 500m were reallocated, Bowe, 33, was also able to compete). The noble move came after Jackson placed third, due to an unfortunate slip on the ice.“No one is more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal,” Bowesaidof her decision.RELATED VIDEO: Olympic Medalist Gracie Gold Recaps Yesterday’s Short Program Figure Skating at the Winter OlympicsJackson previouslyspoke to PEOPLEabout her friendship with Bowe, with whom she grew up in Ocala as part of the same inline speed skating team. “It was hard to put into words what I felt,” she said earlier this month of Bowe’s sacrifice.“I was extremely grateful and humbled and happy,” Jackson added. “Brittany is an amazingly selfless person and I’m honored to call her a friend.“To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, now, and the Paralympics, beginning March 4, on NBC.
Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty
Erin Jacksonhas made history at the2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.The speed skater, 29, won gold Sunday in the women’s 500m with a time of 37.04, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual medal in the event, according toTeam USA.“Remember the name,” Team USAsharedon Instagram. “@speedyj is the first Black woman to win an individual medal in speedskating at the #WinterOlympics.“She is also the first U.S. woman to win gold in speed skating at the Olympics in nearly 30 years, after Bonnie Blair placed first in 1994.Jackson crossed the finish line just 0.08 seconds before Japan’s Miho Takagi, while Angelina Golikova of the Russian Olympic Committee came in third with a time of 37.21.“I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion. A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness,” Jackson told reporters, according toCNN. “I haven’t fully processed everything quite yet, but it just feels amazing.““I had a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried to, I wouldn’t say recover, because it wasn’t anything big, but just tried to continue skating,” she added.The Florida native’s victory comes after her teammateBrittany Bowegave up her first place spotin last month’s qualifying event so Jackson could go to Beijing in her place (after spots in the 500m were reallocated, Bowe, 33, was also able to compete). The noble move came after Jackson placed third, due to an unfortunate slip on the ice.“No one is more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal,” Bowesaidof her decision.RELATED VIDEO: Olympic Medalist Gracie Gold Recaps Yesterday’s Short Program Figure Skating at the Winter OlympicsJackson previouslyspoke to PEOPLEabout her friendship with Bowe, with whom she grew up in Ocala as part of the same inline speed skating team. “It was hard to put into words what I felt,” she said earlier this month of Bowe’s sacrifice.“I was extremely grateful and humbled and happy,” Jackson added. “Brittany is an amazingly selfless person and I’m honored to call her a friend.“To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, now, and the Paralympics, beginning March 4, on NBC.
Erin Jacksonhas made history at the2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The speed skater, 29, won gold Sunday in the women’s 500m with a time of 37.04, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual medal in the event, according toTeam USA.
“Remember the name,” Team USAsharedon Instagram. “@speedyj is the first Black woman to win an individual medal in speedskating at the #WinterOlympics.”
She is also the first U.S. woman to win gold in speed skating at the Olympics in nearly 30 years, after Bonnie Blair placed first in 1994.
Jackson crossed the finish line just 0.08 seconds before Japan’s Miho Takagi, while Angelina Golikova of the Russian Olympic Committee came in third with a time of 37.21.
“I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion. A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness,” Jackson told reporters, according toCNN. “I haven’t fully processed everything quite yet, but it just feels amazing.”
“I had a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried to, I wouldn’t say recover, because it wasn’t anything big, but just tried to continue skating,” she added.
The Florida native’s victory comes after her teammateBrittany Bowegave up her first place spotin last month’s qualifying event so Jackson could go to Beijing in her place (after spots in the 500m were reallocated, Bowe, 33, was also able to compete). The noble move came after Jackson placed third, due to an unfortunate slip on the ice.
“No one is more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal,” Bowesaidof her decision.
RELATED VIDEO: Olympic Medalist Gracie Gold Recaps Yesterday’s Short Program Figure Skating at the Winter Olympics
Jackson previouslyspoke to PEOPLEabout her friendship with Bowe, with whom she grew up in Ocala as part of the same inline speed skating team. “It was hard to put into words what I felt,” she said earlier this month of Bowe’s sacrifice.
“I was extremely grateful and humbled and happy,” Jackson added. “Brittany is an amazingly selfless person and I’m honored to call her a friend.”
To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, now, and the Paralympics, beginning March 4, on NBC.
source: people.com
