MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — Erin Jackson, the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event, is preparing to defend her title at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

She was the dominant force at U.S. Speed Skating Trials in January, winning not only the 1000m and 1500m, but also the 500m after World No. 1 Erin Jackson slipped in her race and lost precious time. However,

U.S. speed skaters Erin Jackson and Jordan Stolz say strong cycling regimens are vital in their quest for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Erin Jackson was a great inline skater before making her way to speed skating. In 2022, she won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

There's *** sort of quiet calm to long track speed skating, so it's just you versus the clock. Just two skaters racing the clock, and when Aaron Jackson is on the ice, one of those skaters is the defending Olympic champ. Going into the Beijing Olympic ...

“Until we’re at the top of the podium as one and two, we’re just trying to help each other get to that point.”

There must be something in the water in Ocala, Fla., the hometown of three Olympic speed skaters competing at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. “A lot of talent for speed skating has come from Ocala,” said Team USA gold medalist Erin Jackson.