Erin Jackson becomes 1st Black woman to win gold medal for speedskating at Winter Olympics

29-year-old Erin Jackson has made history as the first Black woman to win a gold medal in speedskating at the Winter Olympics.

Erin Jackson makes history

The Florida native won the 500 meters Sunday with a time of 37.04 seconds, giving Team USA’s speedskating program its first medal of the Beijing Games.

The last time an American woman took home the top prize in the event was 1994.

Erin Jackson (Photo Credit : TEAM USA)

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“I wish I could describe how I feel, it is amazing,” she told the media after the race. “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.”

The victory almost didn’t happen

Jackson took third in the U.S. trials, the qualifying event for the Olympics, and didn’t earn a chance to race in Beijing.

But her teammate Brittany Bowe decided to give up her spot in the 500 meter race to Jackson out of “the spirit of the Olympics.” Bowe reportedly said she had a better chance to medal in the 1,000 meter and 1,500 meter events and that Jackson deserved to compete.

Well, the rest is history.