Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal in Olympic speed skating, is preparing to defend her title at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics while working to reduce financial barriers in the sport.
Total Apex Sports, a US-based sports news outlet, reports on Jackson’s efforts to make speed skating more affordable and accessible to underrepresented communities.
Jackson made history at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics by becoming the first Black woman to win gold in an individual speed skating event. Building on this success, she is now focused not only on competition but also on addressing the significant costs that prevent many potential athletes, especially from minority backgrounds, from entering the sport. The expenses of speed skating, ranging from $700 to $2,000 for suits, over $2,000 for boots, costly blades, and additional fees for ice time and travel, pose a substantial challenge for aspiring skaters.
Coming from a background where such opportunities were not initially accessible, Jackson is motivated by her own experiences and the knowledge that many minorities participate in sports that require minimal equipment, such as ball sports. She wants to change the perception and reality of speed skating by building support networks to lower financial obstacles.
To achieve this, Jackson has engaged a coalition of supporters, including her former recruiter Chris Needham and Derek Parra, manager of the Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, who has offered ice time for training future athletes. She also draws inspiration from organizations like EDGE Outdoors, aimed at increasing participation of women of color in snow sports, and works with the Sisters in Sports Foundation to support female athletes with disabilities.
Jackson plans to establish an organization dedicated to providing scholarships and resources to young skaters who face financial barriers. Her advocacy aims to inspire a more diverse group of athletes to pursue speed skating, with early signs showing increased diversity and participation driven by her influence. Beyond her athletic career, she intends to focus full-time on creating opportunities in the sport for future generations.
