The Olympic trials are going to be a lot less stressful for Erin Jackson this time around.
The Beijing gold medalist secured a spot on the U.S. team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics by finishing third in the 500 meters with a time of 37.15. Jackson had placed second in both 500-meter races at the season’s first World Cup, in Salt Lake City, giving her an opportunity to lock up a place on the team before the Olympic trials.
‘That (would be) a nice feeling,’ Jackson said in Salt Lake City, when asked about the possibility of qualifying before trials. ‘After what happened last time, I wouldn’t want to be in that situation again.’
In 2022, Jackson was No. 1 in the world in the 500 meters and seemed to be a shoo-in for one of the two U.S. spots at that distance. But only the top two finishers at Olympic trials made the U.S. team, and Jackson finished third after slipping during her race.
Jackson made the team when Brittany Bowe, who’d finished first, declined her spot in the 500. Jackson went on to win gold while Bowe raced in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters.
As a result of Jackson’s near-miss, U.S. Speed Skating changed its qualifying procedures. Anyone who medaled at the world championships could qualify for that distance automatically by placing in the top five at two World Cups. Also, anyone who made the podium in the same distance at two World Cups locked up a spot.
‘If you’re able to hit those benchmarks, then you deserve to have a spot on the team,’ Bowe said in Salt Lake City. ‘I think it’s a great addition to have some sense of security going into the Olympic trials if you’re podiuming consistently or you’re on the world championships podium last year. So I do love the addition.’