BEIJING, China — Erin Jackson of Ocala has won the gold medal in the women's 500m speed skating event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The former inline skate turned speed skater is the first American woman to win a gold medal in the event in more than two decades. She is also the first Black woman to win a medal in speed skating at the Olympics.
Jackson, who was in the second-to-last group to skate, blazed through the track with a time of 37.04.
Before becoming a speed skater on the ice, Jackson was a competitive inline and roller derby skater. However, she switched to speed skating on ice in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. She qualified for the 500m event with only a few months of experience under her belt. However, she ultimately finished in 24th place.
Last year, Jackson also became the first Black woman to win in the Speedskating World Cup.
Japan's Miho Takagi and Russian Olympic Committee's Angelina Golicova won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
Brittany Bowe, also out of Ocala, finished in 16th place with a final time of 38.04.
Though the United States has the most medals in the women's 500m speed skating event, which was first introduced during the 1960 Winter Games, the last American to win a medal was Bonnie Blair. Blair won back-to-back gold medals at the 1992 and 1994 Olympics.
With Jackson's victory, the Untied States now has 12 medals in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, tied for third in overall medals with the Netherlands. The U.S. and Netherlands are also tied for third in gold medals won during the Games with six each.
Norway leads both total medals and gold medals with 21 total medals and 9 gold medals.