A 29-year-old lady named Erin Jackson set a record as the first ever black woman to win a gold medal in Olympic Speed-skating.
Erin Jackson,an American speed skater from Florida made history as the first Black woman ever to win a speedskating medal after bagging the gold medal in the 500-meter speedskating event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.
She won the women’s 500 meters at the National Speed Skating Oval with a time of 37.04 seconds, earning the first speedskating medal for the United States of America in the Beijing Olympics.
“I wish I could describe how I feel, it is amazing. This medal means so much. It has been a tough couple of years and a tough beginning for this year. For this to come around like this, I am so happy,” Jackson told NPR after the race.
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“Hopefully it has an effect and we can see more minorities, especially in the USA, getting out and trying some of these winter sports. And I just always hope to be a good example, especially with helping kids see they don’t have to just choose one between schools and sports,” she added.
Jackson’s coach, Ryan Shimabukuro, said her achievement proves there are no barriers when it comes to diversity. He said it is just a matter of following one’s passion and heart where it takes you.
”And obviously she’s had a great role model in Shani Davis as well, who led the way in 2006 and 2010, and I think she’s going to inspire a lot of the African American community as well,” Ryan said.
Jackson obtained a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Florida in the United States before she focused on speedskating in 2019.
In another story, an exceptional 7-year-old African-American Dakota White has broken the record as the fastest athlete in the United States.
Dakota White is an African-American girl who grew up in Texas. She set a new national record for the Junior Olympics and made history as the fastest kid athlete in the United States.
Dakota and her teammates had earlier set a new record with Xpress Track Club in Fort Worth in the girls’ 8 and under 100-meter relay at the AAU Junior Olympics. She finished her part in 59.08 seconds, setting a new national record. Read more about Dakota HERE.
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