Speedskater Erin Jackson Says Her Historic Gold Medal at 2022 Olympics Is a True “Win” for Black Ladies

Erin Jackson‘s skating sped her as much as function mannequin standing. 

The 29-year-old athlete turned the primary Black American girl to ever win an Olympic medal for pace skating, in response to NBC Sports activities, when she positioned first within the ladies’s 500m race at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 13. 

After the victory, she advised E! Information why she hopes her win will encourage Black ladies to observe their desires. Erin shared, “If, for instance, one younger Black lady occurred to see me on the market racing and profitable a gold medal…if one lady will be impressed by that to go on the market and possibly chase her desires—whether or not it’s in winter sports activities or something typically—then I’d name {that a} win.”

The trailblazer mentioned she needs her success to not simply be a “good instance,” however to additionally result in extra alternatives for elevated range within the U.S. for winter sports activities. She continued, “It means so much and hopefully it may be a giant leaping off level for this system and possibly for all of the winter packages.”