VIDEO SHOWS: INTERVIEW WITH U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON; PHOTOGRAPHS OF ERIN JACKSON DURING 2022 BEIJING OLYMPICS; INTERVIEW WITH U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER BRITTANY BOWE; VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF ERIN JACKSON DURING U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (USOPC) MEDIA DAY SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 31, 2025)(REUTERS – Access All) 1. VARIOUS OF U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (USOPC) MEDIA DAY 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON, SAYING: "For this games, I'm coming in as the reigning Olympic champion and I feel like that brings a lot of pressure. But the pressure is what really drives me to like kind of reach that next level. So I'm typically like a very calm and like relaxed person, but the pressure just helps me, you know, find that extra bit of energy. So I'm really, really looking forward to it." 3. VARIOUS OF U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT USOPC MEDIA DAY 4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON, SAYING: "I'm just really motivated by getting better. I mean, it's a super individual sport and it's a super trackable sport with like the times and everything. So each time I get out there and practice, I'm just trying to be a little bit better than I was the day before." 5. VARIOUS OF U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT USOPC MEDIA DAY 6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON, SAYING: "I'm definitely feeling mentally as strong as ever. Really trying to stay patient with it so that I don't push my back too hard. So yeah, my, the main hindrance I have right now is the opener to my event. So that's a bit slower than I'd like it to be, but it could be a blessing in disguise. It's giving me a little bit more oomph for the rest of the race. So still feeling super confident and ready to go." 7. PHOTOGRAPHS OF ERIN JACKSON DURING USOPC MEDIA DAY (MUTE) 8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER BRITTANY BOWE, SAYING: "I really believe at the end of the day, what really, really matters is the impact that you have on other people. Other people are going to remember how you made them feel, what you did. So to be able to give Erin that opportunity to race for gold, and her having that monumental victory, just being a small piece of her puzzle, I think is an example of me knowing that it's just it's so much bigger than just myself out there." MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES (FILE – JANUARY 9, 2022) (USA TODAY SPORTS – Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott – USA TODAY SPORTS') 9. PHOTOGRAPH OF (FROM L TO R) ERIN JACKSON, MIA KILBURG-MANGANELLO, KIMI GOETZ AND BRITTANY BOWE CELEBRATING ON THE PODIUM AFTER MAKING U.S. SPEEDSKATING LONG TRACK OLYMPIC TEAM AT THE 2022 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS (MUTE) NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 31, 2025)(REUTERS – Access All) 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON, SAYING: "When I retire from the sport and have a bit more time on my hands, it's going to be my personal mission to start an organization that helps more people experience the sport. Because one of the big barriers to entry is the costs. It's a really expensive sport to get into, so I would like to start a scholarship program to help more people who maybe can't afford it." BEIJING, CHINA (FILE – FEBRUARY 13, 2022)(REUTERS – Access All) 11. VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF ERIN JACKSON COMPETING IN 500M SPEED SKATING EVENT AT 2022 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES (MUTE) NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 31, 2025)(REUTERS – Access All) 12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER ERIN JACKSON, SAYING: "I'm really taking it, like, one day at a time. I'm not sure if I'm going to retire or not. It'll just, yeah, I'll take it one day at a time. I feel like with the injury to my back, the three disc herniations, I need to find out a long term solution for that. But if I can get that under control, I'm ready for another four." BEIJING, CHINA (FILE – FEBRUARY 13, 2022)(REUTERS – Access All) 13. VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF ERIN JACKSON CELEBRATING WIN OF GOLD MEDAL IN 500M SPEED SKATING EVENT AT 2022 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES (MUTE) STORY: Erin Jackson is relishing the weight of expectation that comes with being an Olympic champion ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, nearly four years after making history as the first Black woman to win Winter Olympic gold in an individual sport. The 33-year-old American has her sights set on defending her 500m speed skating title in Italy next year despite battling persistent injury issues that have required multiple surgeries since her Beijing triumph in 2022. "I'm coming in as the reigning Olympic champion, and I feel like that brings a lot of pressure," Jackson told Reuters. "But the pressure is what really drives me to kind of reach that next level. So I'm typically a very calm and relaxed person, but the pressure just helps me find that extra bit of energy. So I am really, really looking forward to it." As the buildup to the Games gathers steam, Jackson delivered a statement performance at last month's U.S. Speed Skating Championships, claiming victory in the 500m and finishing second to three-times Olympian Brittany Bowe in the 1,000m. The strong showing provided a morale boost following her struggles with injury. A recurring back injury has haunted Jackson since 2019 and required multiple surgeries, while in March 2023 she underwent an operation to remove 16 non-cancerous fibroids from her uterus. Amid the setbacks, Jackson has remained resolute despite having to change her training routine. In winning gold, Jackson followed a trail blazed by compatriot Shani Davis, who was the first Black athlete to win speed skating Olympic gold in 2006 when he won the men's 1,000m in Turin. Only 43 of 2,952 athletes at the 2018 Winter Games were Black and there were fewer still in Beijing in 2022 after the International Olympic Committee did away with continental quotas in sliding sports, which had previously offered a pathway for African competitors. Beyond her sporting achievements, Jackson has become an advocate for diversity in speed skating through her involvement with Edge Outdoors, an organization that helps women of color engage in snow sports. "When I retire from the sport and have a bit more time on my hands, it's going to be my personal mission to start an organization that helps more people experience the sport," Jackson said. "One of the big barriers to entry is the cost. It's a really expensive sport to get into, so I would like to start a scholarship program to help more people who maybe can't afford it." While Milano Cortina will mark her third Olympic appearance, Jackson's future beyond 2026 remains uncertain with the University of Florida graduate saying she was going to take it "one day at a time". "I'm not sure if I'm going to retire or not. With my back injury and the three disk herniations, I need to find out a long-term solution for that," Jackson said. "But if I can get that under control, I'm ready for another four (years)." (Production: Hussein Al Waaile; David Giancomo; Matt M. McKnight)
(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
