Erin Jackson career timeline: How USA's Florida-born speedskater went from beginner to Olympian in four months

Olympic speed skater Erin Jackson has made history at every turn.

After growing up in Florida and attending college in Gainesville, Jackson quickly climbed up the speed skating ranks, making her Olympic debut in 2018. Since, she became the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport, and for the 2026 Games in Milan Cortina, Jackson is the flag bearer for the United States.

Jackson has become one of the most notable competitors for team USA across all competitions and the flag bearer is another prestigious honor added onto her golden resume.

The Sporting News brings you Jackson's complete career timeline.

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How old is Erin Jackson?

Jackson is 33 years old. A trailblazer on the ice, she made history at the 2022 Beijing Games by becoming the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal in speed skating.

Before transitioning to the ice, the Florida native was a superstar in the world of inline skating and roller derby. Remarkably, she only began training on speed skates in 2017 — just months before qualifying for her first Olympic team — showcasing an elite athleticism that has made her one of the most dominant sprinters in the sport today.

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Where is Erin Jackson from?

Jackson is from Ocala, Florida. 

Before she was a world-class speed skater, she was an academic standout at the University of Florida, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

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Erin Jackson career timeline

Jackson’s career is defined by an incredibly rapid ascent from the pavement to the podium.

— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) February 4, 2026

Born and raised in Ocala, Florida, she spent over 15 years as a dominant force in inline speed skating, amassing 47 national titles and multiple world championship medals. In 2012, Jackson added roller derby to her repertoire, quickly becoming one of the top "jammers" in the world for Team USA.

It wasn't until early 2017, at age 25, that she first tried long-track speed skating on ice. In a feat that stunned the sporting world, she qualified for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics just four months after lacing up ice skates for the first time, becoming the first Black American woman to make the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.

Her breakthrough onto the global stage culminated at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Despite a slip at the U.S. Trials that nearly cost her a roster spot — saved when her teammate and friend Brittany Bowe relinquished her own 500m spot — Jackson went on to win the gold medal in the 500m.

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2022

This victory made her the first Black woman from any country to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics.

Jackson continues to lead the sport  in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Recognizing her immense impact on and off the ice, her fellow athletes voted her to serve as the flag bearer for Team USA during the 2026 Opening Ceremony. 

All the emotions surrounding the announcement of Erin Jackson being nominated as a flag bearer for Team USA. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/9wmkROi2fv

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 3, 2026

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When did Erin Jackson start speedskating?

Jackson started speedskating in 2017 at the age of 25. While she spent years breaking records on the inline skating front, it was only months before the 2018 Olympics that she took to the ice.

When she took the ice in PyeongChang, she became the first Black woman to make the US Olympic team for speedskating.

Erin Jackson medal count

Jackson holds one Olympic medal, which came in the 2022 Beijing games in the 500 meter race.

While her Olympic gold is her most famous achievement, she has been a dominant force on the World Cup circuit, including two Silver medals in the team sprint (2023, 2024). She has over 28 podium finishes, including 16 gold medals. She was the overall World Cup champion in the 500m for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Jackson also has three Gold medals in the 500m (2022, 2024, 2025).

Erin Jackson records

Jackson has solidified her status as one of the most prolific sprinters in American history, currently holding the American record in the women’s 500m. In November 2025, she shattered her own previous mark by nearly two-tenths of a second, clocking in at 36.57 seconds during the World Cup in Salt Lake City. Additionally, she shares the national record in the team sprint and has set six national records over the course of her seven-year professional career.

Beyond her times on the clock, Jackson’s career is defined by historic milestones. At the 2022 Beijing Games, she became the first Black woman from any country to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics, and she was the first American woman to win the 500m event since 1994. Her dominance has remained consistent on the global stage, as she enters the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games having secured back-to-back overall World Cup titles in the 500m for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Her career achievements led to her being elected by her teammates as the flag bearer for Team USA at the 2026 Opening Ceremony. She is only the eighth speed skater in U.S. history to receive this honor, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer for the sport.

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