With the Milan Winter Olympics now set to get underway this week, American speed skater Erin Jackson spoke about her mental fortitude and approach going into the Games. Jackson, who won Olympic gold in the 500m at the Beijing 2022 Games, was recently announced as one of two flag-bearers at the opening ceremony in Milan, a major honor given to her after her consistent performances over the years.
Jackson’s stellar 2025-2026 season has put her firmly in the spotlight, making her a top contender to reclaim Olympic gold.
Erin Jackson Opens Up About Her Strength and Mindset
Jackson clinched her 500m Olympic berth with impressive podium finishes – silver in Salt Lake City and bronze in Calgary – during the World Cup season. She then sealed her place in the 1000m by triumphing at the Olympic Trials on Jan. 3, clocking 1:14.63 to edge out Brittany Bowe.
In an interview with Women’s Health Magazine, Jackson spoke about what strength meant to her, saying: “It’s all-encompassing because strength isn’t just about physical strength; it’s also about mental strength. Especially in a sport like [speed skating] where it’s super individual and super technical, the mental side of the sport is just as important as the physical.”
She was also asked about what mental tools she relies on: “With the mindset that I bring into competition, I don’t place a lot of my self-worth on my performance. If I have a bad race, it’s not the end of the world.
“I don’t see it as a failure. Maybe some people think, ‘oh, I had a bad performance. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to put it out of my mind.’ But with me, I actually do want to think about these things and figure out what I did well and what I can do better next time.”
Jackson will proudly carry the flag for Team USA alongside bobsledder Frank Del Duca when the opening ceremony lights up Milan’s legendary San Siro stadium on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. CET.
Jackson Reveals How She Recovers
Jackson burst onto the international scene in November 2021, when she won her first 500-meter Speedskating World Cup races in Poland with two track records, making her the first Black American woman to win in the World Cup
She went on to dominate the U.S. Olympic Trials and made history as the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China
In the interview with Women’s Health, Jackson also spoke about how she recovers from intense training sessions, saying that she makes sure that she “get enough me time at home”, spending time with her pets and watching TV. She also added that her father moved to Salt Lake City a few years ago to be closer to her, stating that it was “nice to have him around.”
At the Milan Olympics, the women’s 1000m speed skating is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2026, and the women’s 500m for Feb. 15, 2026.
