Erin Jackson, world's top speed skater, headed to the Beijing Olympics after U.S. teammate Brittany Bowe gives up her spot
CBSN
The world's top-ranked speed skater, Erin Jackson, is going to the Beijing Olympics after a teammate gave up a spot for her.
Jackson, 29, revealed in an Instagram post on Monday that fellow American speed skater Brittany Bowe, 33, decided to forgo her place after she won first in a qualifying race at U.S. Olympic trials in Milwaukee on Friday. Jackson finished third – one spot short of qualification – after she slipped during the event.
"Definitely not the way I imagined qualifying for my second Olympic team... but I guess I had to one-up my story from the 2018 Trials. I'm incredibly grateful and humbled by the kindness of @BrittanyBowe in helping me to secure a chance at reaching my goals in #Beijing2022," said Jackson, who is ranked No. 1 in the women's 500-meter by the International Skating Union.