Meet Erin Jackson--The 1st Black Woman on U.S. Olympic Long Track Speed Skating Team

Sports history in the making!! And get this—Erin Jackson has only been on the ice for four months. Wow, talk about TALENT.

Jackson, 25, surprised herself and everyone else at the U.S. Olympic Long Track Speed Skating Trials, becoming an Olympian after just a few months’ practice.

“I really wasn’t expecting any of this, just coming in as a newbie, just trying to do the best I can,” she said in an NBC interview after the race, smiling. “Pretty cool.”

Coming from inline skating, Jackson qualified in the 500m by finishing third after Sochi Olympians Brittany Bowe and Heather Bergsma.

The Floridian joins Maame Biney, who recently became the first Black woman to qualify for the speedskating team with her short-track finish in the 500 meters in Utah. And both young women follow the footsteps of pioneer Shani Davis, who was 19 when he became the first Black athlete to qualify for U.S. Olympic speed skating team back in 2002. He will make his fifth Olympic appearance in Pyeongchang.

In addition to inline skating, Jackson’s also done roller derby! #Kickass #ActionJackson

Go, U.S.A., go Erin Jackson!!! #ErinJackson #BlackGirlMagic