From the biggest sporting event in america to the biggest sporting event in the world with a connection to the first coast florida native erin jackson is competing in long track speed skating at the olympics today if she wins gold she will make history as the first black
Woman to do so in that event before she became an olympian she was part of the jacks roller derby all-star team and her former teammates are up early this morning to watch jackson atia collins is at the watch party now and joins us with more good morning tia
Good morning rich it’s possible that erin jackson actually skated on this rink here behind me now right now her former teammates from the jackson derby all-star team they’re not here just yet we do have this youth hockey hockey team here behind me practicing but they’ll be here in just
About an hour and they have no doubt that jackson will take the goal today and make history now the 29 year old akala native was once the youngest member of the jacks roller derby all-star team back in 2016 that team was ranked 7 out of 400 teams around the world jackson trained
On ice for only four months before she landed a spot on the usa’s long track speed skating in 2018 the first black woman to ever do so back in 2018 she placed 24th overall in the women’s 500 meter speed skating event but today she’s ranked the number one speed skater
Female in the world before making history aaron jackson went to the university of florida where she graduated from the materials science and engineering program her past professors talked with first coast news earlier this week and not only that but she’s extremely uh respectful you know she never
Made any big deal of how good she was and that watch party will kick off at 8 30 the event at 8 56. so if you’re up early make sure you tune in to watch aaron jackson florida native compete for the gold and make history reporting atiya collins first coast news on your
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