If you saw Erin Jackson standing on the top of the podium in Beijing back in 2022, you probably thought you were watching a movie script. First Black woman to win individual Winter Olympic gold. A story of a "gifted" spot from her best friend, Brittany Bowe, after a slip at the trials. It was perfect.
But honestly? The real story isn't just that one gold medal. It’s what has happened since.
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As we stare down the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, the narrative around Erin Jackson speed skater has shifted from "the newcomer who made history" to "the veteran fighting her own body." It hasn't been a smooth glide. Far from it.
The Ocala Connection and the "Wheels to Ice" Pipeline
You can't talk about Erin without talking about Ocala, Florida. It’s weird, right? A swampy Florida town producing world-class ice skaters.
But Ocala is a breeding ground for inline speed skating. Erin spent 15 years on wheels. She was a 47-time national champion and a top-tier roller derby "jammer." Basically, she was already a legend before she ever touched a frozen pond.
She didn't even try ice skating until 2017.
Think about that. She went from "What are these blades?" to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in four months. Most people can’t learn to parallel park in four months. She qualified for the Olympics.
What Most People Miss About the 2022 "Slip"
Everyone remembers Brittany Bowe giving up her spot in the 500m so Erin could skate in Beijing. It’s the ultimate sportsmanship moment. But people forget that Erin was the number one ranked 500m skater in the world at the time.
She wasn't a charity case. She was the best on the planet who had one bad microsecond on a corner in Milwaukee.
When she eventually won that gold in Beijing, it wasn't just a win for her; it was a validation of the "inline-to-ice" pipeline that athletes like Joey Mantia and Bowe pioneered.
Erin Jackson: The Brutal Road to 2026
If the 2022 cycle was about magic and destiny, the 2026 cycle has been about grit. Pure, exhausting grit.
Since that gold medal, Erin has been through a health gauntlet that would have sidelined most people. We aren't just talking about a pulled muscle.
- Herniated Discs: She’s been managing chronic back issues since 2019 that flared up significantly.
- Uterine Fibroids: In 2023, she had surgery to remove 16 fibroids. 16. The recovery from that kind of procedure for an elite athlete is immense.
- The Hamstring Scare: Just recently, in late 2024 and early 2025, a hamstring injury forced her to scratch races and skate "cautiously."
Despite all of that, she just kept winning.
She took the overall World Cup title in the 500m for the 2023-24 season. Then she did it again for 2024-25. Even when she says she’s in pain or "not at her best," she’s still faster than almost everyone else on Earth.
The 2026 Olympic Trials: A Statement Made
In early January 2026, the U.S. Olympic Trials in Milwaukee felt different. The pressure was high, but the "speedy J" we saw was more calculated.
She didn't just qualify for her signature 500m. She went out and beat world record holder Brittany Bowe in the 1000m.
It was a statement. She’s not just a one-distance specialist anymore. By winning both the 500m and the 1000m at the trials, she’s heading into Milan as a double threat.
But it’s not going to be a cake walk. The world has caught up.
The Rivalry to Watch: Femke Kok vs. Erin Jackson
If you want to know who is standing in the way of a repeat gold, look at the Netherlands. Specifically, Femke Kok.
In late 2025, Kok broke the long-standing world record in the 500m at the Utah Olympic Oval. Erin actually set a new American record in that same race, but she finished second.
The gap is tiny. We are talking about hundredths of a second.
Jackson’s start is her superpower. Because of her inline background, her "explosiveness" off the line is legendary. But Kok has a massive engine on the back straight.
It’s going to be a battle of styles in Italy.
Why 2026 Matters More Than 2022
You’ve got to appreciate the perspective shift here. In 2022, Erin was the "cool story." In 2026, she’s the 33-year-old stateswoman of the team.
She’s mentioned in interviews that she’s finally feeling "pain-free" in her everyday life after her recent surgeries. That’s huge. You can’t skate at 300 mph (okay, maybe 30 mph, but it feels like 300) when your back is screaming at you.
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She’s also more visible than ever. From appearing on "Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test" to being a vocal advocate for representation in winter sports, she’s carrying a lot more than just a pair of skates.
The Engineering Mindset
One thing that makes Erin different is her brain. She has a degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Florida.
She doesn't just "feel" the ice; she understands the physics of it. She talks about the friction, the blade angles, and the thermodynamics of the surface.
That analytical approach is probably why she’s been able to stay at the top despite the injuries. She knows how to optimize.
What to Expect in Milan-Cortina
The 2026 Winter Games will be her third Olympics. Here is the reality:
- The 500m is hers to lose. Even with Femke Kok’s world record, Erin is the reigning champ and knows how to peak for the big stage.
- The 1000m is the wildcard. Her win at the trials suggests she has the endurance now to challenge for a second medal.
- Health is the X-factor. If her hamstring stays quiet and her back holds up, she’s the favorite.
If you’re looking to follow her progress, keep an eye on the final World Cup standings leading into February. But don't count her out if she places 3rd or 4th in a random mid-season race. She’s a "big game" hunter. She saves the magic for the moments that count.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the road to Italy, here is how to stay in the loop:
- Track the ISU World Cup Results: Watch the 500m times specifically. Look for anything under 37 seconds. If Erin is hitting those numbers consistently, she's in gold-medal form.
- Watch the Start Times: In speed skating, the first 100 meters tell the story. Watch Erin’s "opener." If she’s under 10.3 seconds in that first stretch, the rest of the field is in trouble.
- Follow the "Ocala Trio": Erin, Brittany Bowe, and Joey Mantia (as a coach/mentor) represent a specific era of American skating. Their synergy often dictates the energy of the whole U.S. squad.
Erin Jackson has already made history. Now, she’s just seeing how much more of it she can write before she finally hangs up the blades.