Erin Jackson Joins Maame Biney as First in U.S. Olympic Women’s Speedskating

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Team USA Olympic Speedskater Erin Jackson ( Photo: Twitter)

(Milwaukee, WI)  25-year-old Speedskater Erin Jackson made history Friday at the Olympic trials in Milwaukee qualifying for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team by finishing third in the 500-meter event.Erin Jackson has been a speedskater for four months and is already a U.S. Olympic qualifier.

The Florida native with the victory becomes the first African-American woman ever to make the U.S. Olympic long track speed skating team. Jackson who has had experience as an inline speed skater switched to this event only four months ago and the decision helped her step into history finishing with her 39.043 time and finishing behind fellow Americans Brittany Bowe and Heather Bergsma. The trio will represent the United States in this year’s Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

In December 17-year-old Maame Biney became the first Black woman to make the U.S. Olympic women’s speedskating team. The Ghana native qualified on the short track with wins in the 500 meters.

Jackson and Biney become the second and third black speedskaters to make the U.S. Olympic team. Shani Davis made the American Mens’ team in 2002 at the age of 19 when he qualified for the short track team.

Trevin A Jones, Urban Media Today

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