Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Ocala Olympian Wins Gold For Team USA

By Rachel Pitts
BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 13: Erin Jackson of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal during the Women's 500m on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at National Speed Skating Oval on February 13, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Ocala Olympian wins gold For Team USA!

Erin Jackson, a University of Florida graduate who is from Ocala, started inline skating in 2002. She then moved from the pavement to the ice in 2017 to begin her speedskating career. Now just 5 years later she is an Olympic Gold Medalist and part of history. Jackson is the first Black woman to medal in speedskating in Olympic history. She is also the first American woman to win the event since Bonnie Blair in 1994.

Erin Jackson, the top-rated speedskater in the world, almost didn’t make Team USA at the trials earlier this year. In a show of great sportsmanship her friend and teammate Brittany Bowe (also from Ocala) gave up her spot in the 500m so Jackson could make the Olympic team. This is her second Olympic Games.

You can watch the Ocala Olympian’s gold medal winning race after the Super Bowl tonight (2/13) on NBC’s Primetime Olympic coverage.

[SOURCE: CNN, Olympic Bio]

Get The WiLD Flex Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Stay connected with the hottest celebrity, music and Tampa/St. Pete stories, exclusive contests, games, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.