American Erin Jackson took the gold medal in the 500 meter race at the Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Black woman to win an Olympic speed skating medal, the Associated Press reports.
The 29-year-old from Ocala, Florida–hardly a hotspot for speed skating–was an inline skater before strapping on the blades prior to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. She joins American Shani Davis as the only Black athlete to win a medal in long-track speedskating.
Jackson won a spot on the team after slipping in US Olympic trials and finishing third. The skater who won the event, Brittany Bowe who is also from Ocala, surrendered her spot in the 500 so Jackson could make the team and compete in Beijing.