Erin Jackson of our very own Jacksonville Roller Derby is headed to the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. She is the first black woman to represent Team USA in Olympic long-track speed skating.
Jackson finished third in 39.04 seconds in the 500-meter race last Friday in Milwaukee earning her spot on Team USA. Jackson, a 25-year-old from Ocala, Florida, has only been long-track speedskating for four months after switching over from inline skating where she dominated as a three-time roller sports athlete of the year.
Jackson turned heads at the Olympic Speed Skating Trials, surprising all who knew she had only been competing for four months, herself included;
“I really wasn’t expecting any of this, just coming in as a newbie, just trying to do the best I can,” Jackson said after the race. “A couple weeks ago, I was still in the 40s. I think I hadn’t even broken 40 [seconds] yet, so it’s all happened really fast.”
Jackson earned a degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida. She plans on returning to school for a Master’s Degree in Materials Science,” College is where Jackson began participating in roller derby.
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games will be Jackson’s first Olympics. She is raising money through a T-Shirt sale so her dad can travel with her and watch her compete.
From her facebook page;
I’m going to the Olympics! I’m beyond excited to say I have earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Long Track Speedskating Team and will be competing at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games! I cannot wait to represent Team USA in PyeongChang, South Korea I’m starting a t-shirt fundraiser to help get my dad to South Korea to watch me race in the Olympic Games. For info about ordering shirts and making donations, go here. Thanks a million to everyone who has supported me along the way toward achieving this dream! I’ll do my best to make you proud this February.
Jacksonville Roller Derby is hosting a fundraising event on Jackson’s behalf, Quads of Glory