Ocala speed skating star Erin Jackson has been selected as a flag bearer for Team USA at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, just four years after her teammate and fellow Ocalan held the same honor.
The announcement was made earlier this week in anticipation of Friday’s opening ceremony. Jackson, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s 500-meter speed skating race, was chosen by a vote of her fellow Team USA athletes. She will lead the American delegation alongside bobsledder and U.S. Army Sergeant Frank Del Duca.
“The moment when I found out I was actually at practice with my team, it was really cool. So, our coach kind of sat us down on the edge of the ice and announced it to the team. And it was just a really cool moment,” said Jackson during a press conference this week.
The decorated athlete said that although she knew she was on the shortlist of people who may be selected, she was unaware of her chances because the others were all “legends” who are “worthy” of carrying the flag…