When you think of speed skating, you probably picture someone who grew up on a frozen pond in Minnesota or a high-tech oval in the Netherlands. You definitely don’t think of Ocala, Florida. But that’s exactly where Erin Jackson, arguably the most explosive athlete on ice right now, got her start.
She didn't grow up on ice. She grew up on wheels.
If you followed the Beijing Winter Games, you know the story. It’s the kind of drama that sounds like a bad sports movie script because it's so improbable. Jackson, the world number one, slips at the Olympic Trials. She finishes third. Only two go. Her career is basically over for the cycle until her friend and teammate, Brittany Bowe, hands over her own spot in the 500m.
Jackson then goes out and wins the whole thing. Gold.
The Olympic Speed Skater Erin Jackson and the 2026 Comeback
Fast forward to today, January 2026. The 2022 hype has settled into a different kind of respect. People kept waiting for her to retire or fade away, but she’s currently locked in for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Honestly, her path since Beijing has been a bit of a rollercoaster. It hasn't been all gold medals and easy laps.
She’s been battling some serious physical hurdles. We’re talking herniated discs and a surgery in early 2025 to deal with uterine fibroids that were basically draining her energy. Most athletes would have called it a day. Jackson? She just kept winning World Cup titles while literally being in pain just standing up.
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Why the 500m Is Pure Chaos
The 500-meter sprint is basically a 37-second explosion. There is no room for a "strategy" beyond "don't mess up." In the 1000m or 5000m, you can pace yourself. In the 500m, if your blade catches the ice wrong for half a millisecond, your podium dreams are dead.
Jackson’s advantage isn't just her legs; it’s her engineering brain. She graduated with honors from the University of Florida in Materials Science and Engineering. She understands friction, force, and vectors better than almost anyone on the circuit. When she’s on the line, she isn't just skating; she’s solving a physics problem at 30 miles per hour.
Transitioning from Wheels to Blades
It’s weird to think that she only touched ice for the first time in 2016. Before that, she was a literal legend in the inline skating world—47 national titles and multiple world championship medals. Most people don’t realize how different the two sports actually are.
On wheels, you push against a solid surface. On ice, you have to find "grip" on a surface that is designed to have none. Her coach, Ryan Shimabukuro, has talked a lot about how they had to rebuild her muscle memory from scratch.
- Balance: Centering weight over a razor-thin blade.
- The Push: Timing the "flick" of the skate to maximize power.
- The Corners: Managing G-forces that want to throw you into the pads.
Breaking Barriers Beyond the Ice
Jackson isn’t just a fast skater. She’s the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold medal. That’s a heavy mantle to carry. She’s been very vocal about the fact that she didn't even realize she was making history until days after the race in Beijing.
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She’s now working with groups like Edge Outdoors and the Sisters in Sports Foundation. Basically, she’s trying to make sure the next kid from a warm-weather state doesn’t have to wait until they’re 24 to find a rink. She’s even talked about starting her own organization to provide gear and coaching to minority athletes who want to try the "cold" sports.
The 2026 Outlook
What are we looking at for the upcoming Games? Jackson is 33 now. In speed skating years, that’s veteran status. But she’s still winning. She took the overall World Cup 500m title for the 2024-25 season.
Her biggest rival is likely going to be the Dutch contingent or Japan’s Miho Takagi, but Jackson has a psychological edge. She’s already lived through the worst-case scenario (the slip at the trials) and the best-case scenario (Olympic Gold).
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Training
You might think she spends 24 hours a day on the ice. She doesn't. A huge chunk of her prep is off-ice.
- Weightlifting: Building the explosive power needed for that first 100m.
- Cycling: Building the aerobic base so she doesn't gass out.
- Recovery: She’s huge on mental resets, pets, and just getting away from the rink.
She even did a stint on the reality show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. If you can survive being interrogated and dropped into freezing water by ex-special forces operators, a 500m sprint probably feels like a walk in the park.
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Practical Steps to Follow Her Journey
If you want to keep an eye on her as we head toward the 2026 Games, don't just wait for the Olympics. The real work happens in the ISU World Cup series.
- Check World Cup Standings: Follow the International Skating Union (ISU) results for the 500m. This is where the real hierarchy is established.
- Watch the U.S. Championships: Usually held in Milwaukee or Salt Lake City. This is where you see the domestic talent like Jordan Stolz and Brittany Bowe pushing the limits.
- Follow Her Socials: She’s quite transparent about her recovery and training. It’s a great way to see the "human" side of an elite athlete.
Jackson’s story isn't finished. Whether she grabs another gold in Italy or not, she’s already changed the trajectory of American speed skating. She proved that you don't need a lifetime on the ice to become the best in the world. You just need a lot of power, a little bit of physics, and a teammate who has your back.
Essential Gear for Aspiring Skaters
If you're inspired to try it yourself, don't just buy the cheapest skates you find.
- Support: Look for boots with high ankle support if you're starting on ice.
- Blade Quality: For speed skating, the "rocker" or curve of the blade is everything.
- Coaching: Find a local "Learn to Skate" program. Most speed skaters actually start in figure skating or hockey to learn basic edges.
Jackson represents a shift in how we view Winter Olympic athletes. She isn't a specialist who has done one thing since she was three. She’s a multi-sport threat who understands that skills are transferable. That’s the real lesson here: your background doesn't limit your future, even if your background is Ocala pavement and your future is Italian ice.