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Speed skater Erin Jackson is a force on the track with 12 World Championship medals and 47 national titles. She made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing when she became the first Black American woman to win a medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold.

Through her success, she has said she hopes to inspire others and create diversity in her sport.

Now, people want to know more about the three-time Olympian, including who her parents are, how she trains for the world stage, and what she eats in a day.

Erin’s background and education

Erin was born and raised in Ocala, Florida, on Sept. 19, 1992, to parents Rita and Tracy Jackson. Her mother worked in a pharmacy and her father is a retired U.S. Army veteran.

Rita died when Erin was in high school, but she credits her mom for getting her into the sport in the first place. The speed skater relayed a story about how one day Rita was at a Waffle House and began talking to another woman about her daughter’s love of being on wheels and going super fast. That woman turned out to be the great skating coach (Renee Hildebrand), and the rest is history.

In one emotional Instagram post remembering her mother, Erin wrote: “We still miss her every day. I wish she could have seen me graduate from high school or college or compete in the Olympics … I’ll forever be grateful to my parents for the sacrifices they made to help me excel in academics, athletics, and life.”

 After high school, Erin attended the University of Florida and graduated with a degree in engineering.

How she trains for competitions

When it comes to Erin’s training, it’s all about “making sure my body is ready to perform at a high level.”

“I do a lot of mobility work, especially for my back, and cardio to get the blood flowing,” she told Bustle. “I’m being diligent about keeping my cardio strong. I’m on the ice five days a week and lifting in the gym twice a week. We also have what we call ‘dry land,’ which is where we reinforce skating positions and movements, but in shoes.”

Erin believes her diet has helped correct a few different health issues

Since 2023, Erin has battled several herniated discs, gastrointestinal issues, and uterine fibroids, which have caused her a lot of pain and required multiple surgeries.

In an interview with Women’s Health, she explained, “I’ve changed my diet a lot in the last year to try and cut down on the inflammation in my body because I think that feeds into my back issues. I’m cooking more food at home versus eating out and just eating healthier overall. Having consistent eating times helps as well.”

Erin no longer eats fried or processed foods. Her go-to meal these days is salmon and vegetables in the air fryer.

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