Erin Jackson Became an Olympian in Just 4 Months

Four months. That’s how long it took Erin Jackson to go from stepping onto the ice for the very first time to earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. What followed was one of the most unbelievable journeys in sports: Olympic gold in Beijing, decided by eight hundredths of a second, and history made as the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

In this episode, Erin takes us inside the full arc, from roller derby alter egos and inline skating dominance to the terrifying, character-building grind of Special Forces, and the mental resilience it takes to start over in a brand new sport at 24. She opens up about the heartbreak of Olympic Trials, the selfless act by teammate Brittany Bowe that changed everything, the pressure of the biggest moments, and what it means to carry visibility into winter sports.

With Milan Cortina beginning, Erin reflects on a milestone just announced: being named a U.S. flag bearer, an honor that underscores not just her excellence on the ice, but her impact far beyond it. She also shares how she’s navigating injuries, defending her title, and chasing another gold, all while staying grounded, analytical, and unapologetically herself. Equal parts mind-blowing, emotional, and inspiring, this is a reminder that it’s never too late to start and that sometimes the wildest paths lead straight to the podium.

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Keep the Party Going:
Tools to help you watch the Olympics:

Get to know the Winter Olympic Athletes nbcolympics.com/athletes

Hometown USA Winter Olympians: state:nbcnews.com/data-graphics/team-usa-athletes-winter-olympics-states-where-from-map-2026-milan-rcna256011

About Oli-Your AI buddy for the Olympics: nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/oli-nbcuniversals-ai-powered-olympic-guide-returns-with-enhanced-features-to-provide-fans-with-up-to-date-info-about-nbcus-coverage-of-the-milan-cortina-2026-olympic-winter-games

The Olympic Schedule: nbcolympics.com/schedule
Explainer Videos: olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/allianz-sport-explainers

Your Olympic Angels
Ross Stevens:
usopc.org/news/2025/march/04/united-states-olympic-paralympic-committee-and-united-states-olympic-paralympic-foundation-announce-100-million-gift-to-support-post-games-financial-security-for-team-usa-athletes

Follow Flavor Flav’s Olympic adventures:
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Alice Milliat:
facinghistory.org/ideas-week/alice-milliat-pioneer-womens-sport

Follow Herstory_Feminism:
instagram.com/p/DT6MSIdCHWy

Wandering Womb theory:
wired.com/2014/05/fantastically-wrong-wandering-womb

Erin Jackson
Follow Erin Jackson: @SpeedyJ
Erin Jackson becomes the first black woman to win individual gold in the Winter Olympics: youtube.com/shorts/uCaKO3FeQXI

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