“People don’t care once the Olympics are over”: Olympic Champion Erin Jackson talks about struggles after returning home
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Erin Jackson, speed skater
American speed skater Erin Jackson created history at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, after becoming the first black woman to win an individual medal at any edition of the Winter Games.
After finishing with Team USA’s first individual speed skating medal of any color in 12 years and the first by an American woman since 2002 as well as winning speed skating World Championships, one would think that Erin Jackson would be receiving quite the attention and admiration for bringing glory to the country. However, things have not been going the greatest for her, as Jackson mentioned that she has failed to even get one new sponsor since the Olympics.
“The thing with Olympic sports is that – how do I say it diplomatically? – people don’t care a whole lot as soon as the Olympics are over,” she said to theguardian.com. “Right after the Games, it’s tough. Where’s the money coming from? How are we going to keep paying rent? Because it does go kind of dark after the Games. Everyone forgets about you.”
Erin Jackson talks about lack of diversity at Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics over the last several decades has been quite an exclusive affair, as people of dark skin tones have not often been seen, despite best efforts. Erin Jackson said that it was because of her coach’s shrewd eye for talent that she made it in the sport, but talked about how tough it was to find other people considering that it is very expensive.
“I just think it’s really strange to imagine that it’s 2022 and I’m getting the first individual gold medal by a Black woman ever in the history of the Winter Olympics. I feel like that’s a pretty strange thing for the year that we’re in.”
Jackson hopes her headline-grabbing success on the global stage can show what’s possible and broaden the talent pool for speed skating and winter sports in general. “Media isn’t exactly my favorite part of the job, but it’s important because you have to get the story out there. So that’s what I’m enjoying doing, trying to get more people to know that this sport is out there,” she ended.
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Saivee Phatak
(1164 Articles Published)