68 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Jackson’s Mission To Conquer Speed Skating’s Cost Barriers
This is the last story in a series about Speed Skater Erin Jackson, who will attempt to win a gold medal for the second time in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Erin Jackson has made her mark in Olympic speed skating. In 2022, Jackson became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in an individual event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. For the next few months, she will continue her journey and try a repeat gold medal win at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
In addition to her Olympic gold, she’s focused on a different kind of race. Jackson has been on a mission to break down the financial barriers that keep many kids, especially from minority communities, off the ice. Her goal is to make speed skating affordable and available, ensuring the next generation has a chance to chase their own Olympic dreams.
The Cost is a Barrier for Potential Skaters
The cost of becoming a world class speed skater is enormous. The suit can range from $700 to $2,000, but that is just one large expense. Skating boots can be over $2,000. Several sets of blades are needed at one grand a pop. Renting ice time, travel, gloves, goggles, well, you get the idea. For most, the Olympic dream ends because the costs make it impossible.
Jackson wants to change this reality.
It’s a personal mission for Jackson, who understands the financial hurdles of winter sports. “When you think about the sports that typically have more minorities represented, it’s the sports where you can just pick up a ball and get some shoes that are a lot easier for someone to get into,” she says. “When you think about me getting into a sport like long-track speed skating, it’s very unlikely, because it’s something that my dad couldn’t have done and probably didn’t even know existed.”
Building a Coalition of Support
Jackson isn’t going at it alone. She has assembled a powerful team of supporters who believe in her vision. Chris Needham, the very person who recruited her to the ice, has expressed keen interest in helping. With his extensive background in recruitment, Needham’s involvement is a significant asset.
Another key ally is Derek Parra, the manager of the iconic Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City. Parra has already offered to provide valuable ice time for Jackson’s future athletes once they are ready to make the leap from roller skates to ice skates. This support is crucial, as access to facilities is often a major obstacle for aspiring skaters.
Jackson’s passion for creating opportunities is also inspired by the work of others. She points to Annette Diggs, the founder of EDGE Outdoors, an organization dedicated to getting more women of color into snow sports. Diggs has served as a mentor and resource for Jackson, who hopes to create a similar initiative for speed skating.
Paving the Way for Future Champions
Beyond her future organization, Jackson is already making a difference. She is actively involved with the Sisters in Sports Foundation, founded by Paralympian Danelle Umstead, which empowers female athletes with disabilities. Through sponsorship and fundraising, she is helping to provide the resources and mentorship these athletes need to succeed.
For Jackson, this work is just as important as winning medals. She recognizes that sharing her story is part of the job. By raising awareness, she hopes to generate the funding needed to support her cause.
After she eventually retires from competition, Jackson plans to dedicate even more time to her mission. “It’s going to be my personal mission to start an organization that helps more people experience the sport,” she stated, emphasizing her goal to start a scholarship program to offset the high costs.
Even now, she sees the positive effects of her advocacy. “It’s been great to see more diversity in the sport,” Jackson noted. “Social media posts from parents showing their kids skating are really rewarding.” It’s a sign that her efforts are already paying off, inspiring a new, more diverse generation of skaters to take to the ice.
The Erin Jackson series:
- 71 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Be Thankful For Erin Jackson – The Reasons Revealed
- 70 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Erin Jackson – From Florida Inline Skater to Olympic Gold Medal Speedskater
- 69 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Jackson and Bowe Are Unstoppable Forces
