Erin Jackson

Erin Jackson (born September 19, 1992)[1] is an American speedskater, inline skater and roller derby player. She qualified for The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland where she competed in inline speed skating in various distances on road and track. She also qualified to compete in the 500 meters long track speed skating event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Early life and education

Erin Jackson was born in Ocala, Florida to Tracy and Rita Jackson. She has one brother.[1] Jackson first skated at eight years old when she tried figure skating.[2] Jackson attended Shores Christian Academy, Howard Middle School, and Forest High School. She then went on to the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors from the Materials Science & Engineering program.[3]

Career

Jackson won gold in the 500-m inline skating race at the 2008–09 Junior World Championships, gold in the same event at the 2014 Pan American Championships, and was named United States Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports in 2012 and 2013. She also competes in roller derby with the Jacksonville RollerGirls of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), earning the MVP award at the 2014 WFTDA Division 1 Playoff in Evansville, Indiana,[4] and advancing to WFTDA Championships in both 2015 and 2016.[5][6]

She qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics with only four months of experience in speedskating on ice.[7] Coached by Renee Hildebrand, Jackson qualified at the 500 meter distance,[3] and finished 24th out of 31 competitors in Pyeongchang.[8]

References
  1. "Erin Jackson Biography". Team USA. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. "Who is Erin Jackson?". NBC Olympics. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  3. Ross, Jim (January 9, 2018). "Erin Jackson is busy and focused". Ocala.com. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. "Tournament MVPs - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". WFTDA. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. "How A World-Class Inline Skater Is Shaking Up The Roller Derby Scene". espnW. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  6. Gardiner, Kelley (5 November 2016). "WFTDA Champs: Day One Roller Derby Recap". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. "Erin Jackson goes from Ocala Cannibals to U.S. Olympic team". OlympicTalk. January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  8. Janes, Chelsea (18 February 2018). "In Erin Jackson, U.S. speedskating sees a bright glimpse into the future". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.