SLC’s Erin Jackson Makes History In World Cup Speedskating Race

TOMASZOW MAZOWIECKI, Poland – Salt Lake City’s Erin Jackson became the first Black American woman to win a World Cup Speedskating race Friday.

Skating in the women’s 500 meter, Jackson topped the field with a time of 37.163 seconds. Behind her by just .013 seconds was the defending Olympic Champion Nao Kodaira of Japan. Jackson also beat out all three women who medaled in the world championships in February.

She’s no stranger to being a trailblazer. In 2018 Jackson became the first Black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic long-track speedskating team.

“Visibility is really important,” Jackson said at a recent Team USA media event. “I’m just happy to be a face that people can see and think, ‘Well, if she’s doing it maybe I should try it too’.”

Track record ✅
Gold medal 🥇

Erin Jackson 🇺🇸 took the first gold medal of the day as she finished ahead of Nao Kodaira 🇯🇵 and Olga Fatkulina 🇷🇺 in the Women's 500m 🔥#SpeedSkating pic.twitter.com/ECtMayoMNL

— ISU Speed Skating (@ISU_Speed) November 12, 2021

The 29-year-old Ocala, Florida native started her skating career on inline skates and in roller derby. In 2017 she transitioned to the ice and within four months she landed a spot on Team USA. In 2018 Jackson finished 24^th in the 500m at the PyeongChang Winter Games. She’s hoping to represent Team USA at the Olympics again in Beijing next February.

Jackson also has big plans off the ice.

“I’d like to be involved in something,” she said, “maybe some sort of outreach or scholarship program that can encourage more minority people to get involved in speedskating because if you look at the sport there aren’t too many of us.”

Jackson’s race can be seen in the clip below at the 26:00 mark.