MILWAUKEE, Wis. — As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina approach, U.S. speedskaters Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe are set to reunite on the ice, their enduring friendship a cornerstone of their Olympic journeys. The duo, hailing from Ocala, Florida, secured their spots at the recent U.S. Speedskating Olympic trials in January, marking Jackson's third Games and Bowe's fourth and final appearance. Jackson qualified for the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events, while Bowe earned berths in the 1,000-meter, 1,500-meter, and team pursuit competitions.
During the trials' 1,000-meter race, Jackson edged out Bowe by 0.39 seconds to claim first place, securing an automatic Olympic spot. Bowe finished second, initially falling short of an automatic qualification, but U.S. Speedskating officials quickly announced she would receive the berth anyway. The decision underscored the depth of talent on the American team and allowed both athletes to focus on their preparations for the February 2026 Games in Italy.
Their partnership traces back over two decades to their shared roots in Ocala, a city of about 70,000 in central Florida. Jackson, now 33, began inline speedskating as a teenager, idolizing the four-years-older Bowe, who was already a world champion in the sport. "I've known Brittany for over 20 years. I grew up in the same hometown in Florida with her, and I started inline speedskating looking up to her," Jackson told ESPN in the fall. "I was following in her footsteps, and she's just been an incredible mentor for me through the years."
Bowe's early success came swiftly; as a teenager, she won multiple world championships in inline speedskating before briefly pivoting to basketball. She played point guard at Division I Florida Atlantic University, starting every game in her final three seasons and averaging more than 33 minutes per game as a senior. Yet, her passion for skating persisted, and after watching former inline peers compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Bowe transitioned to long-track speedskating. By the time of the 2014 Sochi Games, she had set a world record in the 1,000 meters and become a fixture on the U.S. team.
Jackson followed a similar path, building a decorated inline career that included a world junior title in the 500 meters during the 2008-09 season. She stepped onto the ice for long-track speedskating for the first time in February 2017 and committed to full-time training by September of that year. Remarkably, she qualified for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in the 500 meters just four months later, stunning the speedskating community with her rapid ascent.
Their bond was thrust into the global spotlight four years ago at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where an act of sportsmanship defined their legacies. Jackson, then the top-ranked skater in the world for the 500 meters and a gold medal favorite, stumbled during her trial race and finished third. Bowe took first, but with only the top two finishers earning Olympic spots in the event, Jackson appeared headed for heartbreak—until Bowe intervened.
Bowe, who had already qualified for the 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, relinquished her 500-meter spot to Jackson. "It was the spirit of the Olympics," Bowe said at the time, emphasizing that Jackson deserved the opportunity. Jackson expressed profound gratitude on Instagram shortly after: "I'm incredibly grateful and humbled by the kindness of Brittany Bowe in helping me to secure a chance at reaching my goals. She's an amazing friend, teammate, and mentor and this is an act I'll never forget."
Bowe's gesture went viral, earning her the honor of being named Team USA's flag-bearer for the Beijing opening ceremony, as voted by her teammates. Jackson repaid the faith by delivering in Beijing, winning gold in the 500 meters on February 14, 2022. Her victory made her the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games and the first American woman to triumph in the event since Bonnie Blair in 1994.
HISTORIC GOLD‼️ 🥇
Erin Jackson wins gold in the long track women's 500m to become the first Black woman to win a speed skating medal. #WinterOlympics
The milestone was captured in a tweet from NBC Olympics, highlighting the historic nature of Jackson's achievement. Days later, on February 17, 2022, Bowe claimed her first individual Olympic medal, a bronze in the 1,000 meters.
For the first time in her career, Brittany Bowe wins an individual Olympic medal! 🥉
The 33-year-old takes BRONZE in the women's 1000m! #WinterOlympics | #WatchWithUS
Reflecting on Jackson's gold, Bowe told ESPN in October that it ranked "probably at the top" among her career highlights. "To be a part of that, and giving a Black woman an opportunity to do something that's never been done before and just being a small piece of her puzzle, just is another realization that life is just so much bigger than yourself," Bowe said. "And what really matters is the impact you have on everyone around you. Because at the end of the day, no one's going to remember your results, but everyone's going to remember how you treated them and how you made them feel."
Even in victory, Jackson grappled with self-doubt, experiencing what she described as impostor syndrome. "I actually dealt with a little bit of impostor syndrome with it for a bit," Jackson said. "Just because I felt like, 'Did I deserve this?' I was just thinking about the years and the dedication that everyone's put into it, and I felt like maybe I hadn't been in it long enough to have achieved this thing." Bowe stepped in once more to bolster her confidence, reminding her of the hard work she had invested. "But it was Brittany again who helped me realize yes, I did deserve this," Jackson added. "[She said] 'You did put in the work just as much as everyone else.'"
Since Beijing, Jackson and Bowe have solidified their status as the faces of U.S. speedskating, amassing records and medals while nurturing their friendship in a sport often defined by individual pursuits. In the fall, they launched a social media video series titled "Cold Laps, Hot Takes," where they fielded fan questions on topics ranging from managing pre-race nerves to the practical challenges of suiting up for competition. Jackson credited Bowe with the concept, noting the positive reception. "Whenever we see a new person, they're like, 'Oh yeah, we really love that series you guys are doing,'" she said. "It's been super fun so far."
As Bowe, now 37, prepares for her swan song in Milan, she remains ambitious yet philosophical. At the Team USA Media Summit, she told reporters, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going for a gold medal." However, she emphasized personal bests over outcomes: "But she also said she'll be fine with any result as long as she skates her best." Bowe has not decided on participating in the March world championships, but she looks forward to exploring post-Olympic possibilities. Her partner, Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. women's hockey team, has also announced Milan as her final Games, though she plans to continue in the Professional Women's Hockey League. The couple met during the 2022 Beijing Olympics and have been together since.
Jackson, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing down, expressing hope for another podium finish. Their story, however, transcends medals. "In 2022, I felt like if Brittany believed in me enough to give up her spot for me, then it made me believe in myself even more," Jackson reflected. "So, it was kind of a fairy-tale ending for both of us."
For fans, the duo's connection highlights the human elements of elite athletics—sportsmanship, mentorship, and mutual support. "Brittany said it best. She said it was bigger than us," Jackson noted. "As Olympians, people focus on the sports side of everything, but this showed the human side. It showed the sportsmanship, and the gratitude, the humility, the relationships between athletes. It made so many people happy. It just remains a really special thing to be a part of." As they lace up for Milan, Jackson and Bowe carry forward a legacy that has inspired a generation, proving that in speedskating, as in life, the strongest bonds propel athletes farthest.