Despite missing the podium at this year’s Olympics, Ocala’s own speedskating legend Erin Jackson displayed remarkable resilience and put up a valiant effort in defense of her Olympic crown at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
Skating in the final pair of the women’s 500-meter event alongside Dutch favorite Femke Kok, Jackson delivered a powerful start with the second-fastest 100-meter opener in the field at 10.25 seconds.
However, a slight stumble entering the second corner hampered her momentum, leading to a fifth-place finish with a time of 37.32 seconds.
Femke Kok, who set a new Olympic record of 36.49 seconds, claimed gold in the event, while Jackson missed the podium by only five-hundredths of a second…