“Will take a while to process those words” – Erin Jackson becomes first black woman to win individual Winter Olympics gold
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Erin Jackson
US speed skater Erin Jackson won the women’s 500m gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics with a timing of 37.04 on Sunday. Earlier, the 29-year-old had almost missed competing in this event at the Games after she had slipped during qualifying trials.
However, her teammate and friend Brittany Bowe gave up her own spot to ensure the world No. 1 was able to go to Beijing, and it paid off well!
Jackson broke multiple records with her stellar performance at Beijing 2022 as she is the first US woman to win an Olympic speed skating gold since Bonnie Blair did so in 1994. Moreover, she also became the first Black woman to win an individual medal in the sport at the Olympics, according to Team USA.
“I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion. A lot of shocks, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness. I haven’t fully processed everything quite yet, but it just feels amazing,” Jackson said as quoted by CNN.
She added: “I had a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried to, I wouldn’t say recover, because it wasn’t anything big, but just tried to continue skating.”
“Erin earned the right to compete in her marquee event at the Olympics” – Bowe
The Florida native Bowe, who finished 16th in the final round, had already qualified for the 1,000m and 1,500m in Beijing when she gave up her spot on the team to Jackson for the 500m.
“Right after the race, I knew that if it came down to me relinquishing my spot for her to be named on the team, I would do that because she deserves it,” Bowe told reporters earlier this week.
“She has earned the right to compete in her marquee event at the Olympics, and it was an honour to give her that spot for the opportunity to race for gold for Team USA.”
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Sachin Arora
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