American speed skater Erin Jackson made history during the 2022 Winter Olympics.

On Feb. 13, she became the first Black woman to win gold in a solo speed skating event, completing the 500-meters in just 37.04 seconds. She is also the first U.S. women’s speed skater to win gold since Bonnie Blair won in 1994.

Jackson started speed skating in late 2017. Just a few months later, she qualified for and competed in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. She came in 24th place in the 500-meter race. 

Jackson is by no means a stranger to skating, however. She started roller skating at a young age and competed as an inline skater. Before switching to the ice, she won 12 world championship medals and 47 national titles. 

She also didn’t make it to this year’s Olympics though. At the time of the Olympic qualifying event, the U.S. only had two spots it could fill. Due to a slip during the 500-meter, Jackson came in third. Her friend and teammate, Brittany Bowe, gave up her spot in the event so that Jackson could compete. Bowe told NBC Olympics. “Right after the race, I knew that if it came down to me relinquishing my spot for her to be named on the team, I would do that because she deserves it.” 

Bowe was already going to the Olympics in two other speed skating events: the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter. She was also able to compete in the 500-meter event when reshuffling gave the U.S. another spot to fill. Her kindness allowed both friends to come home as Olympic medalists. 

Due to COVID protocols, Jackson had to put on her own medal at the medal ceremony. She later shared on Twitter that she accidentally put it on backward. 

Thousands of people responded to the tweet with words of support and assertions that forward or backward, her medal was still gold.

When asked by Craig Melvin of NBC News if she will be competing in the 2026 Winter Games, Jackson said, “Yeah. I don’t think I can be done yet. I mean, I’m just starting to figure things out. It’s only been like a year-and-a-half of things feeling good on the ice. So I want at least four more.”

In the same interview, she explained what she hopes her being the first Black woman to win this event means to potential speed skaters. 

“I just hope it sparks something. Like a young Black girl saw my race and she’s like ‘oh well maybe I should try this.’ And I think that would be amazing, even if it was just one person. You know, getting someone else out there to skate with me,” she said.