With the Milan Winter Olympics on the horizon, American speed skater Erin Jackson has shared her excitement about being chosen as a flag bearer for the opening ceremony. At 33, Jackson is set to race in both the 500m and 1000m events, earning her spots with standout performances throughout the 2025-26 season. This marks her return to the Olympic stage, four years after her golden triumph in the women’s 500m at the 2022 Beijing Games.
The opening ceremony of the Milan Winter Olympics will be held on February 6-7, 2026, at Milano San Siro Stadium in Milan, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Erin Jackson Opens Up on Being Selected As Flag Bearer for 2026 Winter Olympics
Jackson burst onto the international scene during the 2021-22 season, capturing her first World Cup gold in the 500m at a meet in Poland and making history as the first Black woman to win a World Cup speed skating title. Just a year later, she shattered another barrier by becoming the first Black woman to claim gold in an individual event at the Winter Olympics.
In an interview with the Independent, Jackson spoke about how important it was to her to be selected as flag bearer for the Games:
“Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor. It’s a moment that reflects far more than one individual – it represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport. The Olympics remind us of the power of sport to connect and inspire, and I’m proud to carry that forward on the Olympic stage,” she stated.
Bobsledder Frank Del Duca will join Jackson in carrying the flag, after the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced their selection, chosen by a vote among Team USA athletes.
This rare honor marks only the second time in Winter Games history that two athletes have shared the role for Team USA, following the precedent set in 2022 by Elana Meyers Taylor and John Shuster.
Jackson clinched her spot in the 500m for Milan by finishing third with a time of 37.15 seconds at a World Cup event, adding to her season’s haul of two silvers in Salt Lake City and a bronze in Calgary. Thanks to new U.S. rules rewarding consistent World Cup performances, she qualified even before the Olympic Trials.
At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Jackson powered through a recent hamstring injury to win the 1000m event with a time of 1:14.63, securing her place in both races. She stated that it was a “really big relief” to qualify, and that she didn’t feel “anything” in her hamstring on the day.
Jackson’s Olympic journey in Milan begins soon, with the women’s 1000m set for February 9 and the 500m following on February 15.
